North Hanover School District has decided to start their own classes rather than remain a part of regional consortium designed to educate handicapped 3- and 4-year-olds.
By: Eve Collins
NORTH HANOVER Officials in the North Hanover School District have decided to pull out of the regional Early Bird Consortium, a program that educates handicapped 3- and 4-year-olds, and said they will start their own classes.
According to North Hanover Superintended Richard Carson, the population of students has increased so much over the years, that classes were being held in three different locations, causing transportation costs for districts to soar.
"There is not really any negative to it," he said of the district’s withdrawal. "The districts will be able to save more money."
Officials started the consortium 20 years ago because the state mandated that districts provide assistance for handicapped preschool students. Children from Chesterfield, Mansfield, North Hanover, Springfield and New Hanover have been involved since then.
"It was decided (back then) that the best way to provide the services was to do a consortium," said Mansfield Superintendent Joseph Bruni.
All classes had been held at the Discovery School in North Hanover, officials said, until recently, when they ran out of room and opened one class at the John Hydock school in Mansfield and one at the Child Development Center on McGuire Air Force Base.
Although classes had been taking place only in North Hanover, Mansfield officials were running the program. "We had the three destinations and we were finding it extremely difficult to manage the classes," Mr. Bruni said.
The few teachers who had special training to work with the kids had to start traveling to the three sites, officials said, which was wasting a lot of valuable time.
There are approximately 50 children in the program now, with North Hanover sending 20 and Mansfield sending 22, officials said, and students from the other towns filling the other spots.
Dr. Carson said North Hanover schools could save up to $40,000 in transportation costs, but will have to add startup costs for their classes, which will remain at the Discovery School.
He said the split has been in the works for months. "I have been meeting with the other superintendents to discuss the ramifications," he said. "We have been exploring a number of different options."
Mr. Bruni also noted that his district would be saving approximately $30,000 just in transportation costs.
Students from communities that are members of the consortium now will attend classes at the John Hydock School in Mansfield, which serves students in kindergarten through second grade, Mr. Bruni said.
Officials said parents from all communities could choose to send their child to the classes at North Hanover.
"If they need other resources that are not provided (by the consortium), they may go to North Hanover," Mr. Bruni said. "This creates more options for the regional districts."