District 70 Considers Adding Special Education Classroom (IL)

January 28, 2011

The success of a special education classroom created in the middle school two years ag o may make way for a similar classroom on the elementary school level.

Libertyville Elementary District 70 is looking at creating a self-contained classroom next year to house up to eight students requiring special education, said Marilynn Menuey, the district’s director of special education. A similar program at Highland Middle School allows 10 students in special education to remain in their home school and be integrated with their peers in selected academics, physical education and fine arts classes.

“The middle school program has been extremely successful and is working beautifully; we think it will work well at an elementary school as well,” Menuey told board of education members this week at a Committee of the Whole meeting. It is a natural step in the program, allowing students to easily flow from the program on the elementary level to the middle school level.

Currently, Menuey has identified seven students who would benefit from such a program. Those students would be in first through third grade next fall. They vary in special education needs from Learning Disabilities to process delays to physical disabilities. All of their needs could be met by a District 70 teacher, rather than having to attend a special school outside of District 70 or receive piece-meal help within the district, she added.

By educating the children locally, Menuey said it allows student to stay with their peers and neighbors, provides more focused instruction and allows the district to control the curriculum. It also saves the district money by not having to pay tuition and transportation when students are placed in specialized schools outside of the district. However, the district fully expects to continue to keep a child’s needs as a top priority and when a child’s needs are beyond the scoop of the district, they will continue to b e placed in specialized schools that meet their needs.

“This could allow some of our students who need more focused instruction to stay at their home school and that’s always a plus,” Supt. Dr. Guy Schumacher said. “Rather than pulling them out of class for sessions, they would remain in class and learn together, but be with the rest of the students for art, music and physical education classes.”

Board member Anne Brandt said, “as a parent, I would like my children to stay together in the same school whenever possible. This sounds like it’s in the best interest of the students.”

The district would use current staff to support the classroom with one teacher and two paraeducators.

The board is expected to officially review the proposal at a February meeting.