Statement on Special Education from Bricolage Academy

We are pleased to have the opportunity to comment on the serious charges made
against our School in this morning’s WDSU-televised press conference.
Early this academic year, Bricolage Academy hired an additional Special Education
teacher and four additional paraprofessionals in order to accommodate a significant
increase in the enrollment of students requiring Special Education services at our
School this year. Although Bricolage has always been 100% in compliance with
Special Education requirements in our annual state audit, questions remained
regarding delivery of services. Consequently, we engaged the services of a wellregarded Special Education consultant to do an in-depth analysis of our program
and processes so that we could ensure program delivery rose to meet the high
standards of general education here at Bricolage.
On December 19, a concerned parent alerted us to an “Open Letter” addressed to
me as Interim CEO, our board chair, and our principal regarding Special Education at
Bricolage. This document had been posted on a parents’ club’s social media page
but had not been signed, dated, nor delivered to any of the three of us.
In our December 20 response, we explained that our consultant had already begun
her study and would be providing us with advice moving forward. We invited our
Special Education parents to come speak directly to any of us at the School about
their concerns.
Because these are serious matters that require serious attention, I will be re-issuing
this invitation, clearing my own calendar for at least 2 days next week so that our
Special Education parents can share their experiences directly with me. Parents who
may not wish to meet in person may, of course, follow the Grievance Procedure
found on page 44 of the Bricolage Family Handbook posted on the School’s web
site.
As always, our Principal, Ms. Wilbern, is open to meeting with any of our parents
who wish to speak with her. Though she is only in her first year as Pre-K-6 Principal,
Ms. Wilbern has established a reputation of dealing head-on with issues that come
to her attention. Both of us will be working closely with our consultant as she
continues her work in the weeks ahead.
All of us want the same thing – to meet the ambitious mission of Bricolage Academy
for our children in a dynamic and deeply caring way. As we work continuously to
improve in all areas, focusing especially on the area of Special Education, we also
look forward to creating an even more united community, home and school
together, in order to realize the vision of this unique open-enrollment charter school
to provide the best possible education for all of its students.
Carolyn Chandler Louden
Interim CEO Appointed 12/2/19
Bricolage Academy