Special Services

Marion County is committed to serving exceptional students with an appropriate individual education program in the least restrictive environment. Special Education procedures have a firm underpinning in a team approach. This team actively involves parents, administrators, general educators and special educators. Procedural safeguards are implemented to assure the protection of parent and student rights.

A multi-disciplinary evaluation team consisting of the parents and professionals determines each student’s present level of performance. Program and placement recommendations are made in accordance with county, state and federal mandates. Related services such as speech and language, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and transportation are provided as required for students to benefit from special education.

Categories of exceptionalities, which are served within the county, include; autism, behavior disorders, blind and partially sighted, deaf-blindness, deaf and hard of hearing, gifted, mentally impaired, orthopedic impaired, other health impaired, preschool needs, specific learning disabilities, speech-language impairments, and traumatic brain injury.

What is Section 504?

Section 504 is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled are met.  It is part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  

Section 504 states that: “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States, as defined in section 706(8) of this title, shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance…” [29 U.S.C. §794(a), 34 C.F.R. §104.4(a)].

The U.S. Department of Education provides a parent resource for Section 504 here: 
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/504-resource-guide-201612.pdf

Marion County forms and resources can be found in our filing cabinet: 
Marion County Section 504 Forms

The Marion County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to educational programs. 

Contact

For questions regarding Section 504 in Marion County, please contact:

Gia Deasy
Administrative Assistant for Special Services
304-367-2139
gdeasy@k12.wv.us

Additional Web Resources

Behavior Support

Transition 

  • PAES Brochure

  • PAES Fact Sheet

  • Transition Coalition   The Transition Coalition provides FREE research-based online training for anyone who is involved in transition planning. Our modules are developed using up-to-date research in transition, effective practices in professional development, and materials and resources for implementation.

  • Pathways   This site is a collection of resources, tools and people to help students with disabilities, through the journey from youth to adulthood. Use the site to explore jobs and careers, education/training after high school, independent living skills, and partners and programs to help you along the way.

Special Services Projects

Crisis Prevention Intervention Training

  • The Crisis Prevention Institute is an international training organization that specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior.

Graduation 20/20 - West Virginia Department of Education

Special Services Staff Directory

Gia Deasy
Administrative Assistant 
gdeasy@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 ext 146

Angela Betonte 
Liaison, Grades 9-12 
abetonte@k12.wv.us 
304-367-2100 ext 151

Cheryl Bifano 
Audiologist 
cbifano@k12.wv.us 

​Sherry Harney 

504/Student Assistance Team Facilitator
sherry.harney@k12.wv.us


​Kathy Cyphers
Executive Secretary 
kcyphers@k12.wv.us
304-367-2139

Janie Gallagher 
Liaison, Grades 5-8 
agallagher@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 ext 154

​​
Gregory Mikeo 
Psychologist
gmikeo@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 ext 144

Denise Morris
Behavior Specialist
denise.morris@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 ext 143

​Stacey Oliver 
 Coordinator, Early Learning 
stacey.oliver@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 ext 126

​Kathern Pellegrin 

IEP Specialist 
kpellegr@k12.wv.us 
304-367-2100 ext 149

Sharon Seay
Secretary
sseay@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 x 165

Carol Stephenson
Lead Speech Therapist 
cstephen@k12.wv.us
304-367-2158

​Kristie Stewart 

Secretary
kristie.gabbert@k12.wv.us
304-367-2120

Toni Toothman 
Liaison, Grades K-4
tltoothm@k12.wv.us
304-367-2100 ext 148