A New Classroom for the “Most Special Guests”

At Monday’s ribbon cutting and celebration of the new Early Childhood Special Education classroom at Southern Boone schools, it was pointed out to Southern Boone Chamber members, parents and administrators that the most special guests in the room were….the children.

The school district was proud to show off its newest classroom to families who will utilize its services as well as the public on Monday evening.

Veteran faculty member Safire Ortbals and aide Leslie Martin talked with families and children and showed them different parts of the classroom, which is a former kindergarten classroom in the old Elementary building.

“We are so fortunate to have a classroom this size,” said Breena Eddy, the Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator.

The classroom will serve 11 students to start and Eddy expects more to come to the Southern Boone district because of the new classroom.

“I expect it to grow this year and in the future,” Eddy said.

Southern Boone students in the Early Childhood Special Education program were previously bused to the center in Jefferson City. Due to the nature of the distance and how widespread the students were in the SoBoCo school district, proponents of serving those students in the district pointed out that some children were on the bus hours each day.

Superintendent Chris Felmlee has been an ardent proponent of Southern Boone serving these students and this past Spring, the school board provided the earmark in the budget.

Most of the costs of the Early Childhood Special Education will be either federally or state reimbursable to the district.

The room is divided into different segments by different centers which will provide opportunities for education as well as play.

~ Get more on this story in today’s Journal ~