MONROE, CT — An Ad Hoc Facilities Committee studying ways for the town to accommodate growing student enrollment has discussed numerous scenarios, from renovations and additions to existing schools and reconfiguring the grade levels among them, to exploring vacant parcels of land and building a brand new school.
The committee will try to settle on one proposal at its next meeting to be held on Feb. 12, so there is ample time to seek the backing of the Board of Education, town officials and taxpayers, before applying for a state construction grant in the spring.
“All of us need to look at these configurations and do a deep dive,” said Board of Education Chairman David Ferris, who heads the committee. “We have homework assignments.”
During the committee meeting last Thursday, Michelle H. Miller, a project manager and architect with Silver Petrucelli & Associates, gave a presentation on the six scenarios committee members narrowed the options down to. To see the presentation, click here.
Therapeutic Day Services
Jennifer Parsell, director of student support services for the district, also spoke at the meeting, while presenting a proposal that could save the town money in the long run.
By providing a Therapeutic Day Services program in one of Monroe’s public school buildings, Parsell said the town can bring back some of its special education students who are receiving services outside the district.
Of the 35 Monroe students currently receiving outplacement services, Parsell said at least 10 students could return to the district and take advantage of the new program for an estimated annual savings of $1 million in transportation and tuition costs.
Curriculum could be aligned with district goals with the decreased stigma of being outplaced, according to Parsell, who said, “99.9 percent of Monroe’s students are doing well in their outplacements. It’s a delicate process to bring them back, but some kids are ready to come back.”
Though the program would save the town money on an annual basis, Parsell said there would be significant upfront costs to start it, an estimated $900,000 in the first year.
“We’re literally creating a whole other school,” she said.
The school would provide support for special education students with psychiatric and behavioral challenges in grades K through 8, from age 4 to 13. The class ratio would be eight students to one teacher and one registered behavior technician.
“We would need three or four rooms to start,” Parsell said.
Required support staff includes a school psychologist, a social worker, a board certified behavior analyst, behavior technicians and paraeducators.
Required certified staff includes a certified teacher for each class, a school nurse or medically certified person, and specialized teachers: art, physical education and music.
Parsell said the district would have to buy three vans to pickup students and bring them home.
Among the logistics, administrators would have to create a mission statement, develop a school philosophy, a behavior management system, positive behavioral interventions and supports, consider a boys and girls town model, have parent management training, establish school procedures and host staff training.
If the Board of Education and town residents decide to back the creation of a Monroe Therapeutic Day program, Parsell said some students will still need outplacement services that the district cannot provide.
“We’re always going to have students, who don’t fit this model and have greater needs than this,” she said.
When asked whether any specific school building would be ideal for this program, Parsell said they can do it anywhere, so long as the proper staff is in place.
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