The teacher shortage in Peoria District 150 meant the end of the contemporary school at Woodruff Career and Technical Center. It was one of three programs housed there.
Peoria Public Radio’s Tanya Koonce reports it’s a big loss for the students who were flourishing there, but don’t fit in as well at traditional schools.
More than 100 teachers, parents and students turned out for the Peoria District 150 School Board meeting and more than 20 people spoke to the school board, essentially calling the administration's decision to end the program, poor planning.
Kevin Hodgkins was a student in the program. He says he has Tourette's and anxiety disorder with panic attacks. Hodgkins says that makes it difficult for him to maintain his focus and fit in the normal classrooms at his home school, Rolling Acres. “I was fitting-in great at Woodruff. Woodruff was awesome and it just helped me a lot while it lasted. I think this is very inappropriate to close this school.”
Hodgkins is being raised by his 75 year-old grandmother who says he wants to be a doctor and without the special fit he had at the contemporary school, she worries he won't make it through school.
The 6-year-old program started with 125 students. About half as many were enrolled as of last Friday when it ceased.
Kim Thomas is the Illinois Teacher of the Year, and teaches math at Woodruff. Thomas says the 6th through 12th grade Contemporary Program was the pinnacle of Social Emotional Learning for kids that don’t fit in at other schools.
Thomas: “You know, if you sent, I bet, Derrick Booth (PSD 150 Social Emotional Learning Director) to every single middle school, every principal would say, ‘Hey, here’s five kids. Tak’em!’ They would fit in at Woodruff. Have him go to the parent’s homes and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got this program, I think this would maybe really fit the need of your kid.’ We didn’t even try!”
Superintendent Sharon Kherat says classes are consolidated every year. The 14 teachers from the Woodruff Contemporary program are being reassigned to help fill some of the 52 open positions in the district. Superintendent Sharon Kherat says it’s a difficult balance, to let go of a valuable program that serves 65 students with 1,500 others waiting for teachers.
At least one school board member, Dan Walther is asking to have the board revisit and vote on the administration's decision to end the program. School board policy requires at least two members make that request in writing for it to be an agenda item.
Four other school board members expressed some question about the administration's decision to end the contemporary school. Bob Davison-Aviles says he disagrees with it but still respects and supports the superintendent.
School board president, Martha Ross and board member Ernestine Jackson say they will not undermine the superintendent's decision or look to turn it around.
AUDIO EXTRA:
Derek Scott, a teacher at the Contemporary School, is waiting for reassignment in District 150. These are his remarks before the Peoria Public School Board, Monday, September 12, 2016 at Roosevelt Magnet School.