 GREENSBORO NEWS |
Changes to autism wing proposed
by Pamela Holley-Bright
Carolina Peacemaker
Originally posted 11/11/2009
Guilford County Schools (GCS) is now asking for parent and community input regarding due to changes in its original autism wing proposal.
Three autism wings were proposed in the 2008 bond, that number has been reduced to two. GCS will be taking public comments for 30 days (Nov. 10 to Dec. 10) on the matter.
One of the autism wings will be located at Ragsdale High School, but the second site for the other wing is yet to be determined.
The original proposal calls for forty-eight autistic students to occupy each site, now it has been recommended that that number be increased to 120. “Part of the reason for the change is because our students are closer to areas that are within the city limits of High Point and Greensboro. The Ragsdale site is centrally located and will provide access for students in High Point, Jamestown and the Southwest area of the county that now either travel to downtown Greensboro to attend McIver (Education Center) or who miss out on services because their parents simply don’t want their children to attend school so far from their home,” explained Betty Anne Chandler, executive director of exceptional children.
School officials also share Chandler’s sentiment that the high school’s central location makes it an appropriate choice for an autism wing. Parts of Ragsdale will be renovated and Jamestown Middle School’s buildings will be joined with Ragsdale. A new gym and media center are to be included in the renovations along with a separate entrance, student-support facilities and classrooms.
Board Member Paul Daniels raised a word of caution, by saying, “We should be careful about segregating these students from our other students.”
Some school board members wondered if the autistic students would indeed have some inclusion opportunities. The programming components at McIver Education Center, located on Summit Ave. in Greensboro, include sporting events and have been duplicated at other sites so students and families do not miss out on opportunities to celebrate their children. “These are wonderful kids…but some of them we have to protect from general population, not the other way around. Every parent that I know who has an autistic child is trying to integrate them into the general population,” said Garth Hebert, board member.
Increasing the population size of the proposed wings may also call for state-funded principals. The original plan called for a lead teacher to provide administrative oversight, but Chandler said that may not be sufficient now and it is unknown at this time if a state-funded principal for the Ragsdale site will be guaranteed. Separate staff may also be needed. At this time, budget impacts remain unknown until the second site is identified. The significant student population change would also require approval by the Guilford County Commissioners.
A tentative date has been scheduled for a public form. GCS officials will hear comments on Nov. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Exceptional Children’s Training Room at 120 Franklin Blvd.
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