Santa Monica special ed chief resigns under fire
May 3rd, 2008Santa Monica [California] Lookout:
Tim Walker, the top special education official in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, has resigned his post amid parent allegations that he was fostering a climate of intimidation, coercion and fear. The school board agreed to pay Walker one year’s salary and benefits in exchange for his resignation.
The agreement comes shortly after the Santa Monica City Council declined to release some half a million dollars to the school district until the district had investigated parents’ allegations that they had been coerced into signing away their children’s rights in exchange for needed services.
“I really am very, very happy that we can now move forward and bring an end to the culture of marginalizing children who need special education services and their parents,” said Tricia Crane, a special education parent who led the reform effort.


