Pupil Personnel Services

Contact Information:
Mr. Jacob Russum
Pupil Personnel Director
Phone: (516) 434-2620
Fax: (516) 431-8422 

Island Park Union Free School District provides a full range of services designed to meet the needs of preschool and school age students.  The District is committed to fulfilling the obligations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The fundamental principle behind these federal laws is that students with disabilities are provided a free and appropriate public education in the least-restrictive environment.

Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provides for reasonable accommodations for students who have a mental or physical disability that affects a major life function. Each school has a Section 504 Team, which is responsible for determining a student’s initial eligibility for accommodations and for periodically reviewing the student’s functioning to determine ongoing needs. Parents/Guardians who suspect their child may have a disability that requires Section 504 accommodations should initiate a referral in writing to the building principal. Questions about Section 504 and appeals of Section 504 decisions should be directed to the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, 150 Trafalgar Boulevard, Island Park, NY 11558.

Special Education Programs

In accordance with the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, special education services are provided to a student who is identified as having an educational disability.  The Committee on Special Education (CSE) is responsible for the referral, evaluation and placement of school age students with educational disabilities.  The Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) has similar responsibilities for preschool youngsters ages 3-5.  Children are eligible to receive special education and related services when the IEP team determines that the child meets state and federal eligibility criteria and requires special education services.  

To meet the special educational needs of children with disabilities, the district provides a full continuum of services including consultant teacher, resource room, integrated co-teaching, special classes, and related services. Related Services may include speech/language therapy, counseling, services for hearing impaired, physical and occupational therapy, and services for the visually impaired.  Some students whose needs cannot be met in District programs are served in other public school districts, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), or nonpublic school programs. Parents/Guardians who suspect that their child may have an educational disability and may require special education services may initiate a referral by writing to the building principal or the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, 150 Trafalgar Boulevard, Island Park, NY 11558