Educational Services of America

On Monday, June 12th, Senator Tom Torlakson, D 7th District, and Erin Gabel, District Representative for the 7th Senate District, toured Spectrum Center’s Valley Campus. Spectrum Center operates three schools and four collaborative programs within the 7th Senate District. Senator Torlakson responded to an invitation to visit one of Spectrum Center’s schools to observe the intensive education offered to some of California most challenged students.

After the classroom tour, Senator Torlakson and District Representative Gabel met with administrators from Spectrum Center and Educational Services of America to discuss the impact of recent legislation and administrative decisions on Spectrum Center’s operations. Among the items addressed were: the fact that COLA adjustments provided to local schools districts are not passed through to non-public schools contracted to serve students with special needs, the unintended consequences of AB 1858 on non-public schools, and the scarcity of HQT special education faculty in California. The Senator and District Representative learned in the meeting of Spectrum Center’s national teacher recruitment efforts and continuing education program established with California State University – Sacramento.

Joining Senator Torlakson and District Representative Gabel in the meeting were Pam Raymond, Executive Director of Spectrum Center; Chris Homes, Human Relation Director of Spectrum Center; Catherine Lindsey, Director of Spectrum Center’s Valley Campus; John McLaughlin, Executive Vice President of Educational Services of America, and policy advisors David Helmsin and Patrick Campbell.