Parent urges meaningful inclusion 

By APRIL S. KELLEY, Hill Country News

Local parent Kevin O’Brien asked the Leander Independent School District to make “meaningful inclusion” part of the special education program, prior to the board’s approval to hire 20 additional staff members for the program at a cost of nearly $800,000. This happened at the Sept. 5 board meeting.

“I understand that there is going to be about $800,000 going towards special education,” O’Brien said. “I hope that you guys focus not just on hiring more teachers but changing the mindset of what meaningful inclusion is and why it works.”