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Dr. Michele Britton Bass will join the Santa Barbara School Districts as its second director of special education in January.

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School officials hire second special ed director

By ERIC LINDBERG — Nov. 21, 2009

Santa Barbara school officials announced they have hired a second director to oversee the districts’ embattled special education department.

Dr. Michele Britton Bass joins recently appointed special education director Dr. Kerri Mills in heading a department that had previously seen seven directors come and go during the past eight years.

“This is an exciting time to be working in special education and in particular in the Santa Barbara School Districts,” Dr. Britton Bass said in a news release. “I am passionate about being able to make a difference in the lives of students and their families and teachers in promoting excellence in the programs in our schools and the community for individuals with disabilities.

“I have great hope that together we will develop an atmosphere of positive involvement and inclusiveness for all students.”

She joins a department that has been under heavy scrutiny for years by community members — particularly parents of students in the special education program who feel their children are not getting the care and services they need.

When former director Anissa McNeil resigned last fall, the community began clamoring for solutions and school officials commissioned an independent review of the department, which ultimately recommended a major overhaul of the entire program.

Following the release of the report, school administrators hired two new special education directors, but both pulled out of their respective positions within days. Facing increased complaints from concerned parents, officials brought in an interim special education administrator, Dr. Caryl J. Miller, to oversee the department through January.

After a lengthy search, the districts brought Dr. Mills on board several months ago. She has extensive experience in special education and most recently served as assistant superintendent of special education and student services in Mill Valley School District.

Dr. Britton Bass also has experience in the field of special education. In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree in social ecology and a teaching credential from UC Irvine, she earned a master’s degree in special education from Sonoma State University and a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco.

She currently serves as the chair of the education department at Antioch University, while prior positions have included director of student teaching and field placements at California Lutheran University; coordinator for the Comprehensive Teacher Education Institute and learning disabilities specialist in the disabled students program; and special education faculty member at CSU Northridge.

Dr. Britton Bass’ salary range is $108,040 to $120,183, and she will join the school districts in January.

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is this good? : 11/21/2009

More captains to weigh down the sinking ship.

goleta

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Agenda : 11/21/2009

Without commenting on the new appointee, as long as the top three [Sarvis, (Keyani), Swaske and Robertson] are involved, the answer to "is this good?" is "not likely."
Maybe now the Superintendent can look around and do a better job at posting agenda attachments before the week-end.

Disclosure

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Dr. Bass : 11/22/2009

As Dr. Bass's neighbor, I can vouch that she is a good person. That may have nothing to do with credentials or what the job requires, but it can't hurt. I've spoken with her many times and find her to be intelligent and down to earth. That's more than I can say for many people in general. I'd bet she'll do a good job. I also plan to ask her for money since her salary was printed in the article.

Dr. Bass's Neighbor :)

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Too many cooks spoil the soup : 11/23/2009

We need TWO? Sounds like an easy path to gridlock. This is supposed to help the budget problems?

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Practical? : 11/23/2009

Has Dr. Britton Bass ever actually taught special education in a public school?

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