Letter to the Editor -- Northside Early Learning

Editor, Attached please find the letter I submitted to each of the CCSD school board members in regards to their decision to no longer fund NELC to any extent from the general fund. CCSD Board Members, As an itinerant early childhood special education teacher at NELC I would like to express my heartfelt disappointment with the decision the board has made to reduce and transfer the majority of staff at NELC. I have spent the majority of my teaching career working with early childhood students with developmental delays  in the self contained classroom.  Five years ago CCSD changed the face of early childhood special education by moving to a model of full inclusion.  What this meant was "special education"  was no longer a place.....it wasn't the one or two rooms where "those" kids were.  NELC became a fully inclusive pre-k where ALL children were given access to general education environments, were able to participate and develop friendships  with a majority of their typically developing peers. As an itinerant special education teacher I am responsible for making sure the students on my caseload are receiving the services they need. I have had the opportunity to see the gains and benefits that inclusion provides for ALL of our students.  I have attached two files below to help illustrate WHY continuing to provide an inclusive pre-k is beneficial.  If CCSD is truly wanting to meet the expectations of our community as described in the Profile of a Learner,  I implore you to reconsider the decision to reduce NELC to early childhood reverse inclusion classrooms only. I am aware of the budget shortfall, but I don't believe we should simply disregard best practice.  CCSD stepped up and said we are including ALL children in each and every classroom regardless of delay.  This has been monumental for our district and our state but to have the board decide providing this level of inclusion is not a priority is disheartening.  Basically, CCSD can no longer support full inclusion because it isn't a priority.   As a tax payer and community member I am disappointed in the decision as it now stands. I would love to share the successes our students have had because of the opportunity to participate in a fully inclusive pre-k setting.  I would also welcome the opportunity to discuss why full inclusion makes a difference that extends beyond the classroom. --Sincerely, Michelle Herzbrun   Never miss a meeting or community event – keep an eye on the community calendar at https://www.thefallonpost.org/events/ If you like what we’re doing, please support our effort to provide local, independent news and contribute to The Fallon Post, your online news source for all things Fallon.