Westbury special education staff report expanded services and student retention

Westbury special education director Michael Mack presented a detailed update on program changes and staffing shifts to the Board of Education on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The presentation marked the first entry in a new monthly series designed to provide transparency on operations across various district departments. Mack stated that his team’s primary goal is to support students, families, and teachers within the community.

The RISE program, which stands for Reaching Independence through Support and Empowerment, has seen substantial numerical growth. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the district operated two sections of the program across elementary, middle, and high schools. For the 2026-2027 school year, the district has scaled this initiative to nine sections. This expansion aims to provide more structured support for students across all grade levels.

Staffing changes represent another area of focus for the department. Mack reported that the district now employs occupational therapy staff in-house rather than relying on outside agencies. He argued that internal staff offer better community engagement and a deeper awareness of specific student needs. The department also added behavioral analysts to its team to further support student progress.

Night school services have expanded over the past two years to include special education, counseling, and resource room services. These additions allow the district to provide support during evening hours for students who may not attend traditional daytime sessions. The expansion of services for bilingual students now covers grades K-3, broadening the demographic reach of the special education department.

Mack linked these program updates to specific retention metrics. The district reported that 30 students returned to the Westbury system, while 25 additional students remained in the district due to the new programs. This results in a combined 55-student increase attributed directly to the updated special education services.

The presentation included a review of the Challenger soccer program, an instructional sports initiative. The team finished its recent season with a 6-1 record. Mack displayed photographs of himself participating in student activities, including costume events and pie-throwing games, to illustrate the department’s emphasis on student engagement.

Mack described his role in education as the best job available, noting that it is both stressful and challenging. He credited his team members for their work and emphasized that some of his greatest life moments occur when he is interacting playfully with students.