It’s not that Vicki Vanderheyden has a problem with Webber Elementary School, she just wants her cognitive impaired daughter Katie to stay at Stadium Elementary.
She protested the move of special needs kids next fall to Webber at a Lake Orion School Board meeting on May 12. She claims the performing arts program at Stadium has helped Katie improve.
‘She’s had great progress, especially in dance class,? she said. ‘The value of dance and drama will not be duplicated in the other school.
‘We weren’t informed of this until the plan was already in effect. You’re only talking about nine children.
‘Our rights are being violated. Programs that are working shouldn’t be taken away from taxpayers.?
Vanderheyden also isn’t too happy about a ‘time-out closet? constructed at Webber. She said it’s 4 x 4 and has a door that locks
Debbie Woelmer has a child at Stadium and believes the school provides ‘an amazing performing arts curriculum.?
‘Stadium is a Blue Ribbon school. They obviously know what they’re doing,? she added.
She told board members she has looked at Webber and hasn’t seen much difference in the two schools. ‘Nothing is being gained by the move to Webber. They’ll be losing friends, maybe a therapist,? she added.
Tammy Lott, whose daughter is a second grader in the special needs program and who is doing well, supports the move to Webber.
(About the special needs program), ‘It’s not just dance and drama. The greatest thing is the interaction within the classroom and with the teacher,? she said.
One of the pluses for moving to Webber, Lott said, is the school has a fenced in playground. Special needs children can’t play outside at Stadium because its play area is not fenced.
Other advantages for the children at Webber will be direct access to bathrooms; they won’t have to go out into fenced in playground. Special needs children can’t play outside at Stadium because its play area is not fenced.
Other advantages for the children at Webber will be direct access to bathrooms; they won’t have to go out into any hall and they’ll also have access to the Moose Tree Science Center.
And as far as the time-out room is concerned, she added, all of the parents concerns were accommodated at a recent open house.
My daughter is excited about going to Webber. Kids can adapt to things,? Lott added.
Beth Donetti is the mother of four children and her daughter is in the special needs program. She would prefer that she stay at Stadium so she can be close to family and friends.
‘This is not a financial decision; there’s no savings,? LO School Superintendent Dr. Craig Younkman said. ‘We aren’t curtailing any programs for special education. No programs have been taken away, just relocated.?
According to Younkman, moving the special ed program from Stadium is similar to a program shift from Pine Tree to Blanche Sims.
‘Our curriculum is identical in all the schools, only the delivery in style and approach is different,? he added.
Younkman said special ed staff helped design the new room at Webber and parents knew about the time-out room.