RUMFORD – A plan to provide day treatment services for special needs elementary students was presented at Monday’s SAD 43 board meeting. Action on whether to go ahead with it will happen at the May 17 meeting.
As presented by Superintendent Jim Hodgkin and Special Services Director Paige Coville, about 10 students, primarily in the lower elementary grades, would receive mental health services and their educational program in a now-unused section of Meroby Elementary School in Mexico.
The plan estimates a cost for hiring a social worker, several educational technicians and teachers, along with transportation, at about $240,000.
The district transports the students to special day treatment programs in Wilton or Lewiston now.
“These are students who can least tolerate long rides,” said Hodgkin. “We may save money or we may make money in the future (if area districts join in).”
But saving money isn’t the primary reason for trying to establish such a program.
Hodgkin and Coville believe offering the program close to home would be better for the children.
“These are youngsters with significant mental health needs,” said Coville.
If approved by the board, the program would be set up for one year only at Meroby. Two large classrooms and a smaller planning room, along with bathrooms and a separate entrance at Meroby, would be used for the program. Long-term plans call for acquiring an as-yet unspecified building in the area for a day treatment program.
If and when that happens, the day treatment program could be expanded to include secondary-level students.
The district pays $280,000 now for the educational needs of students sent out of district.
Coville said providing the program in-house will make it easier for the district to work with social service agencies for the benefit of the students.
The plan also calls for operating the program on slightly different hours from the times other students attend school.
Whether the program begins and ends earlier or later will be determined later.
The proposed day treatment program also provides 20 to 25 additional school days per year for special needs students in the program.
Although Meroby Principal Scott Drown said locating the day treatment program in his school presents some challenges, he said it makes a world of sense.
“Space is not a problem. I favor the plan,” he said.
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