By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP - Northwest Local School Superintendent Kathryn Hellweg says she welcomes an investigation of the district's special-education services.

The Child Advocacy for Rights and Equity, a local nonprofit organization, has filed a complaint against the district, claiming it denied certain special-education services to sixth-graders at White Oak Middle School.

State investigators from the Department of Education's Office for Exceptional Children visited the district Friday to view documents and asked that the district respond to the complaint in writing.

"The group calling itself the Child Advocacy for Rights and Equity is, in reality, one parent who has filed numerous complaints against the Northwest Local School District, all of which have, to date, been determined to be without merit," Hellweg said.

"It is the responsibility of the state office to thoroughly investigate all complaints they receive, regardless of who filed them or the merit or lack of merit on the complaint's face," she said.

"The district is complying with all requests for documentation."

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com