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Log inWAYNE SCHOOL EYED FOR SPECIAL ED
WAYNE SCHOOL EYED FOR SPECIAL ED
by Outspoken on Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:29 am
WAYNE SCHOOL EYED FOR SPECIAL ED
BY MATTHEW STONE
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal
WAYNE -- Some Augusta-area special-education directors are showing interest in beginning a regional center for autistic children at Wayne Elementary School.
Special-education directors in seven central Maine school districts recently returned surveys to Maranacook-area schools Special Education Director Lew Collins meant to gauge interest in a specialized program at the public elementary school. Nearly 85 percent said they had at least some degree of interest.
Maranacook officials are considering locating a specialized program in Wayne as part of discussions on how the town can keep its school open despite a shrinking student population.
For their part, Wayne School Committee members are brainstorming ways to use space in the school formerly occupied by a Head Start preschool program. The program closed in the spring when transportation funds were cut.
As the Wayne school's student body shrinks, the town faces a steep drop in state funding because Maine bases subsidies to local districts on student populations.
Wayne's current 60-student population is down from 80 students a year ago. Next fall, student numbers will likely drop to 46, according to district projections.
Collins said he sent surveys to the special-education directors in 12 central Maine school districts and received seven responses. "What we have at this point is an apparent interest among some of the school districts," he said.
In the coming weeks, he said directors will meet to discuss what districts could expect from a Wayne program, which could open as soon as next fall.
"We will meet again and try to flesh out whether this can be a serious possibility for Wayne next year," Collins said.
In the survey, 60 percent of special-education directors said the program would be most useful if it served elementary-age students, according to Collins.
Altogether, the seven districts that answered the survey -- which Collins declined to identify -- send 21 students to specialized programs outside their districts.
http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/5550899.html
BY MATTHEW STONE
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal
WAYNE -- Some Augusta-area special-education directors are showing interest in beginning a regional center for autistic children at Wayne Elementary School.
Special-education directors in seven central Maine school districts recently returned surveys to Maranacook-area schools Special Education Director Lew Collins meant to gauge interest in a specialized program at the public elementary school. Nearly 85 percent said they had at least some degree of interest.
Maranacook officials are considering locating a specialized program in Wayne as part of discussions on how the town can keep its school open despite a shrinking student population.
For their part, Wayne School Committee members are brainstorming ways to use space in the school formerly occupied by a Head Start preschool program. The program closed in the spring when transportation funds were cut.
As the Wayne school's student body shrinks, the town faces a steep drop in state funding because Maine bases subsidies to local districts on student populations.
Wayne's current 60-student population is down from 80 students a year ago. Next fall, student numbers will likely drop to 46, according to district projections.
Collins said he sent surveys to the special-education directors in 12 central Maine school districts and received seven responses. "What we have at this point is an apparent interest among some of the school districts," he said.
In the coming weeks, he said directors will meet to discuss what districts could expect from a Wayne program, which could open as soon as next fall.
"We will meet again and try to flesh out whether this can be a serious possibility for Wayne next year," Collins said.
In the survey, 60 percent of special-education directors said the program would be most useful if it served elementary-age students, according to Collins.
Altogether, the seven districts that answered the survey -- which Collins declined to identify -- send 21 students to specialized programs outside their districts.
http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/5550899.html
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
