Order Following Prehearing Conference of October 24, 2016

BEFORE THE

OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In the Consolidated Matters of:

DEHESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OAH Case No. 2016090241

DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY

MONTESSORI CHARTER SCHOOL,

v.

PARENTS ON BEHALF OF STUDENT,

PARENTS ON BEHALF OF STUDENT, OAH Case No. 2016080384 v. ORDER FOLLOWING PREHEARING

CONFERENCE OF OCTOBER 24, 2016

DEHESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY

MONTESSORI CHARTER SCHOOL.

On October 24, 2016, Administrative Law Judge Darrell Lepkowsky, Office of Administrative Hearings, held a telephonic prehearing conference. Deborah R.G. Cesario, Attorney at Law, appeared on behalf of the Dehesa Elementary School District and the Community Montessori Charter School (Districts). Cara Lucier, Attorney at Law, appeared on behalf of Student and his parents. The ALJ recorded the PHC.

Based upon discussion with the parties, the ALJ issues the following order:

1. Hearing Dates, Times, and Location. The hearing will take place on

November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10, 2016, and continuing day to day, Monday through Thursday, at the discretion of the ALJ. Student’s motion to change the venue of the hearing is granted.

The hearing shall now take place at the OAH offices in San Diego, located at 1350 Front Street, Suite 3005, San Diego, California, 92101. OAH does not validate parking. The hearing shall begin at 9:30 a.m. the first day of the hearing and at 9:00 a.m. all other days, unless otherwise ordered.

The parties shall immediately notify all potential witnesses of the hearing dates, and shall subpoena witnesses if necessary, to ensure that the witnesses will be available to testify.

A witness will not be regarded as unavailable for purposes of showing “good cause” to continue the hearing if the witness is not properly notified of the hearing date or properly subpoenaed, as applicable.

2. Issues and Proposed Resolutions. The issues at the due process hearing, and

the proposed resolutions, are listed below.

Student’s Issues:

I. Did Districts deny Student a free appropriate public education for the 2014- 2015 school year and extended school year by failing to:

a. Offer and provide services comparable to those described in Student’s

previous individualized education program when he transferred to Districts at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year;

b. Offer and provide appropriate behavioral support such as a one-on-one

aide, a behavioral support plan, behavior goals, or counseling in the IEP’s dated October 1, 2014, and June 1, 2015;

c. Offer appropriate, measurable goals in all areas of need in the IEP’s

dated October 1, 2014, and June 1, 2015, and specifically failing to offer goals in the areas of social skills, behavior, pragmatic language and communication, and counseling and failing to provide progress reports on goals;

d. Offer an appropriate placement with supports in the IEP’s dated

October 1, 2014, and June 1, 2015;

e. Implement the IEP’s dated October 1, 2014, and June 1, 2015,

specifically as to accommodations, modifications, and goals, including the provision of progress reports; and,

f. Make a specific written offer of FAPE at the IEP team meetings on

October 1, 2014, and June 1, 2015? II. Did Districts deny Student a FAPE for the 2015-2016 school year and extended school year by failing to:

a. Offer and provide appropriate behavioral support such as a one-on-one

aide, a behavioral support plan, or behavior goals, or counseling until March 1, 2016, in the IEP’s dated June 1, 2015, March 1, 2016, and May 19, 2016;

b. Offer appropriate, measurable goals in all areas of need in the IEP’s

dated June 1, 2015, March 1, 2016, and May 19, 2016, and specifically failing to offer goals in the areas of social skills, behavior, pragmatic language and communication, and counseling;

c. Offer an appropriate placement with supports in the IEP’s dated in the

IEP’s dated June 1, 2015, March 1, 2016, and May 19, 2016;

d. Implement the IEP’s dated June 1, 2015, March 1, 2016, and May 19,

2016, specifically as to accommodations, modifications, and goals, including the provision of progress reports;

e. Make a specific written offer of FAPE at the IEP team meetings on

June 1, 2015, March 1, 2016, and May 19, 2016; and,

f. Timely file for a due process hearing with OAH after Parents refused to

consent to District’s proposed IEP’s dated March 1, 2016, and May 19, 2016? III. Did Districts deny Student a FAPE for the 2015-2016 school year by failing to provide Parents with a complete copy of Student’s educational file within five business days of their May 20, 2016 request? As proposed remedies, Student requests that Districts be ordered to:

a. Reimburse Parents for their out-of-pocket expenses for tuition, transportation,

counseling, and educational therapy at the Winston School, and for the cost of their self- funded independent educational evaluation;

b. Fund Student’s prospective placement at the Winston School, including

transportation and counseling;

c. Provide Parents with a full copy of Student’s educational records; and

d. Train their staff in the legal requirements for maintaining and producing

copies of student records.

Districts’ Issue:

I. Does Districts’ May 19, 2016 IEP offer Student a FAPE in the least restrictive environment such that Districts may implement it in its entirety without Parents’ consent? As a remedy, Districts request an order that they may implement Student’s IEP without Parents’ consent.

3. Exhibits. Exhibits shall be pre-marked and placed in three-ring exhibit

binders prior to the hearing. The parties shall use numbers to identify exhibits, but shall place the letter “S” or “D” in front of the exhibit to designate if it is a Student or District exhibit (for example, “S-5, S-6,” or “D-1, D-2”). Each exhibit shall be internally paginated by exhibit, or all of a party’s exhibits shall be Bates-stamped. Each exhibit binder shall contain a detailed table of contents. The parties shall serve their evidence binders on each other in compliance with Education Code section 56505, subdivision (e)(7). At the hearing, each party shall supply an exhibit binder containing its exhibits for use by the ALJ, and a second exhibit binder for use by witnesses. The parties may not serve exhibits on OAH prior to the hearing. In the event of duplicate exhibits, the most legible version will be used.

To the extent practicable, exhibits in the exhibit binders shall be in chronological order.

In the event of duplicate exhibits, the most legible version will be used. The parties shall meet and confer by 5:00 p.m. on October 27, 2016, to delete duplicate exhibits from the exhibit binders. The parties are not required to renumber exhibits if they delete exhibits after the exchange of documents.

The parties shall exchange resumes for each witness who is expected to testify as to their professional credentials. Notwithstanding the requirements of Education Code section 56505, subdivision (e)(7), the parties shall exchange resumes and curriculum vitae by 5:00 p.m. on October 27, 2016.

If the parties intend to rely on IEP’s, the parties shall attach all pages of the IEP(s), including copies of all actual signatures on the IEP(s) and any typewritten or handwritten notes or comments, if any, written on the IEP(s). Excerpts of an audio record of an IEP team meeting, if any, should, in addition to the audio record offered, be transcribed and offered as documentary evidence; that portion of the audio record transcribed shall be provided to the opposing party along with the transcript to allow an opportunity to verify the accuracy of the transcription. Transcriptions need not be prepared by a certified court reporter.

Except for good cause shown, or unless used solely for rebuttal or impeachment, any exhibit not included in the exhibit lists and not previously exchanged shall not be admitted into evidence at the hearing unless it is supported by written declaration under penalty of perjury, and the ALJ rules that it is admissible.

4. Witnesses. Each party is responsible for procuring the attendance at hearing

of its own witnesses, and shall subpoena witnesses if necessary, to ensure that the witnesses will be available to testify. Each party shall make witnesses under its control reasonably available. The parties shall schedule their witnesses to avoid delays in the hearing and to minimize or eliminate the need for calling witnesses out of order.

The parties shall comply with Education Code section 56505, subdivision (e)(7). No party shall be permitted to call any witnesses not timely disclosed except for good cause shown, supported by written declaration under penalty of perjury, and at the discretion of the ALJ. Education Code section 56505, subdivision (e)(8), affords each party the right to prohibit the introduction of any evidence at the hearing that has not been timely disclosed.

During the Prehearing Conference, the parties were ordered to meet and confer by no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 27, 2016, at 5:00 p.m., and identify the witnesses the witness lists who cannot be produced at hearing without a subpoena and provide the witnesses contact information to opposing counsel so that subpoenas can be issued. As part of the meet and confer process, Districts’ counsel shall inform Student’s counsel as to whether the witnesses on Student’s witness list are employed by or otherwise under the control of District and will be produced at hearing, and if not, shall provide Student’s counsel with the most recent contact information for that witness no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 27, 2016, at 5:00 p.m.

On the first day of hearing before the first witness testifies, the parties shall provide the ALJ with one joint detailed hour-by-hour schedule of all witnesses expected to testify at hearing, which list shall also include an estimate of time for each party’s direct and cross- examination. The parties shall meet and confer each day of hearing to revise the witness schedule as needed.

Each witness will only be called once to testify, except for rebuttal purposes, and all parties shall examine the witness when the witness is first called. District shall have witnesses available in case agreement on a witness list is not reached. The parties shall be prepared at the end of each day of hearing to discuss the witnesses to be presented the next day and the time the testimony each witness is expected to take.

The parties are encouraged to review and shorten their witness lists prior to the hearing, bearing in mind that evidence will be excluded if it is repetitive, cumulative, or insufficiently probative to justify the time it would take to hear such evidence. The ALJ has discretion to limit the number of witnesses who testify and the time allowed for witnesses’ testimony. Education Code, section 56505.1, subdivision (h), empowers the ALJ presiding at a due process hearing to set a reasonable limit on the length of the hearing after consideration of all of the following: (i) issues to be heard, (ii) complexity of facts to be proven, (iii) ability of the parties or their representatives to present their respective cases, and (iv) estimates of the parties as to the time needed to present their respective cases.

5. Scope of Witness Examination. Each witness shall be called to testify only

once, except for rebuttal purposes, and all parties shall examine the witness on all issues when the witness is first called. After the first direct and cross-examinations, each party shall be limited in examining the witness to only those matters raised in the immediately preceding examination. The order in which the parties present their cases in chief shall be subordinate to the need for each witness to appear only once. Unless otherwise ordered, only one round of redirect and/or re-cross examination shall be permitted.

6. Telephonic Testimony. Whether a witness may appear by telephone is a

matter within the discretion of the ALJ. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, § 3082, subd. (g).) Any party seeking to present a witness by telephone shall move in advance for leave to do so, unless the opposing party has stipulated that the witness may appear by telephone. The proponent of the witness shall provide the proposed witness with a complete set of exhibit binders from all parties, containing all of each party’s exhibits, prior to the hearing; and shall ensure that the hearing room has sound equipment that allows everyone in the room to hear the witness, and the witness to hear objections and rulings. No witness will be heard by telephone unless all these requirements have been fulfilled.

Student’s motion to take the testimony of Winston School Director Amy Spitler by telephone is denied. The Winston School is only approximately 20 miles from the OAH offices in San Diego. Ms. Spitler’s busy schedule does not support a motion to take her testimony telephonically. The majority of witnesses in this case will have equally busy schedules.

7. Electronic Recording of Hearing.

a. Audio Recording. The ALJ shall record the hearing and the ALJ’s

recording is the only official record of the hearing. No person shall record or photograph the proceedings unless otherwise permitted by the ALJ.

Student’s counsel and Districts’ counsel shall be permitted to make an audio recording subject to the following conditions: 1) OAH’s recording is the only official recording; 2) the recording will be turned on and off at the same time as the ALJ’s recording, to avoid recording conversations while off the record; 3) operation of the party’s recording mechanism will not be allowed to delay the hearing; 4) such recording shall be for counsel’s personal use only and only for review and preparation of the hearing; 5) the recording device shall be turned on only when the ALJ states that the matter is on the record, and shall be turned off when the ALJ states that the matter is off the record; 6) counsel shall not play any part of the recording for any prospective witness and the recording shall not be disseminated to anyone other than counsel; 7) the parties shall not use the recording in any subsequent due process hearing or other proceeding; 8) No more than one person for each party may record the hearing; and 9) the parties shall destroy the unofficial recording when the decision in this case becomes final and/or all appeals are exhausted.

Any recording made by counsel is not the official record and is permitted as a courtesy, unless otherwise ordered by the hearing ALJ.

No one observing the hearing will be permitted to record it in any way.

b. Video Recording/Photography. No party, witness or anyone else

present may make any video recording or take any photographs of any part of the proceedings. Any person doing so shall be subject to sanctions.

8. Order of Presentation of Evidence. In an administrative proceeding, the

burden of proof is ordinarily on the party requesting the hearing. (Schaffer v. Weast (2005)

546 U.S. 49, 56-62 [126 S.Ct. 528, 163 L.Ed.2d 387].) Here, both parties have filed for due process. Since Student’s case covers a longer period of time, and encompasses the IEP that District has put at issue, Student will present his case first, followed by Districts, subject to the order in Item 5 above.

9. Motions. Student’s motion to change venue is granted as discussed above.

Student’s motion to take the testimony of Ms. Spitler telephonically is denied, as discussed above. No other pretrial motions are pending or contemplated. Any motion filed after this date shall be supported by a declaration under penalty of perjury establishing good cause as to why the motion was not made prior to or during the prehearing conference of October 24, 2016.

10. Compensatory Education/Reimbursement. Any party seeking reimbursement

of expenditures shall present admissible evidence of these expenditures, or a stipulation to the amount of expenditures, as part of its case in chief. A party seeking compensatory education should provide evidence regarding the type, amount, duration, and need for any requested compensatory education.

11. Stipulations. Stipulations to pertinent facts, contentions or resolutions are

encouraged. Any proposed stipulation shall be submitted to the assigned ALJ in written form.

12. Conduct of Counsel and Hearing Room Decorum. Counsel, all parties, and all

witnesses shall conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times.

Cellular phones, pagers, recorders, and other noisemaking electronic devices shall be shut off or set to vibrate during the hearing unless permission to the contrary is obtained from the

ALJ.

13. Special Needs and Accommodations. Neither party indicated a need for any

accommodations in this case. If a party or participant to this case, such as a witness, later requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the mediation or hearing, the party or either party’s attorney may contact the assigned calendar staff, identified in the scheduling order, at (916) 263-0880, as soon as the need is known. Additional information concerning requests for reasonable accommodation is available on OAH’s website at:

http://www.dgs.ca.gov/oah/Home/Accessibility.aspx.

14. Hearing Open/Closed To the Public. At the request of Student, the hearing

will be open to the public.

15. Settlement. The parties are encouraged to continue working together

to reach an agreement before the due process hearing. The parties shall inform OAH in writing immediately should they reach a settlement or otherwise resolve the dispute before the scheduled hearing. In addition, if a settlement is reached within five days of the scheduled start of the due process hearing, the parties shall also inform OAH of the settlement by telephone at (916) 263-0880.

IF A FULL AND FINAL WRITTEN SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS REACHED

AFTER 5:00 P.M. THE DAY PRIOR TO HEARING, THE PARTIES SHALL LEAVE A

VOICEMAIL MESSAGE REGARDING THE SETTLEMENT AT (916) 274-6035. THE

PARTIES SHOULD ALSO LEAVE CONTACT INFORMATION SUCH AS CELLULAR

PHONE NUMBERS OF EACH PARTY OR COUNSEL FOR EACH PARTY. THE

PARTIES SHOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY FAX THE SIGNATURE PAGE OF THE

SIGNED AGREEMENT OR A LETTER WITHDRAWING THE CASE TO THE OAH AT

THE FAXINATION LINE at 916-376-6319.

Dates for hearing will not be cancelled until the letter of withdrawal or signature page of the signed agreement has been received by OAH. If an agreement in principle is reached, the parties should plan to attend the scheduled hearing unless different arrangements have been agreed upon by the assigned ALJ. The assigned ALJ will check for messages the evening prior to the hearing or the morning of the hearing.

16. Failure to comply with this order may result in the exclusion of evidence or

other sanctions.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATE: October 24, 2016

DARRELL LEPKOWSKY

Administrative Law Judge Office of Administrative Hearings