Consolidating classes and upgrading student services

Several changes are in store for special education students, teachers and support staff in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District for the 2012-13 school year as Ogden Elementary School students will be moved to Hewlett Elementary and a life skills class is being added to the high school.

By bringing Ogden students to Hewlett and being able to increase special education class sizes, district officials said they are seeking to create an improved learning environment for the students. Ogden will still provide special education services through integrated teaching — a general education teacher and special education instructor share in teaching a specific subject — and a resource room.

At Hewlett, nine students are expected to be in the second/third grade class, plans call for 10 students to be in the fourth grade and eight students in the fifth grade special class.

“The decision is based on what’s best for the students,” said Lori Freeman, the district’s executive director of special education, in explaining that the goal is to move students into a classroom with a larger number of students — what is called the least restrictive environment — with the ultimate goal of mainstreaming the children into general education classes. Twenty out of the 27 students being moved from Ogden live in the Hewlett Elementary School zone, Freeman said.

Freeman added that she spoke with every parent that has a child who is now at Ogden and will be moving to Hewlett and they are all satisfied. Special Education PTA co-president Nancy Greebel speaking for her board said the change is positive, but parents expressed concerns about the planning and execution of the move.

“It is a huge transition for the children going to a different building,” said Greebel, who added that some parents were worried about their children losing ground transitioning from one school to another.

“The parents were interested in discussing some continuity with teachers or teacher aides.”

Though staffing decisions have yet to be finalized depending the updating of the students’ individual education plans (IEPs), district officials said that teachers aren’t being laid off and it is possible that additional teachers could be hired. “It makes sense to be under one roof. But we are looking for as smooth a transition as possible,” Greebel said. “That means a lot to the parent of a special needs child.”

Duplicating a model being used at the Franklin Early Childhood Center, the high school day will be extended an hour — from 3 to 4 p.m. — to work on IEP goals that cannot be accomplished during the typical six-hour school day, Freeman said. A new special class is being created with eight students, one teacher and two teaching aides or assistant that will include the teaching of functional academics and daily independent living skills.

The classroom will have a kitchen, laundry facilities and technology such as a SMART board and computers. The academic area will help in teaching skills including reading signs and maps, filling out job applications, using money and public transportation, and knowledge of their community. Students will earn a Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential.

Current eighth grade middle school students will be part of a 12-student, one teacher and one aide or assistant class as high school freshmen that will focus on the Regent curriculum with more individualized instruction. In addition, five high school students presently placed at out-of-district schools will return to the district. “It is very exciting for us to be able to bring students back,” said Freeman, who noted that these changes are being made to improve student education.

Students returning is a good thing, Greebel said, but there are other issues that must be managed. “To have as many students in their home district is a positive, Greebel said.

“These are a lot of changes at once, a lot of new programs,” she said. “Are things going to be well prepared in every single classroom?”