New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
City, ACES join forces for a new special ed program
ANSONIA — Students with emotional disabilities at Mead Elementary School no longer will have to take a 17-mile bus ride to North Haven to receive special education services.
Beginning in January, the program they attend through Area Cooperative Educational Services will have a satellite campus at Mead School.
The partnership initially won’t cut down on special education costs for the district, but it is expected to trim transportation expenses and allow students in the program to remain closer to their home school community.
“It’s exciting that our students will be brought home,” said Superintendent of Schools Carol Merlone. “Parents seemed very enthused about it.”
She said the arrangement came about after she approached ACES Executive Director Thomas Danehy last year. The district recently had a special education audit that recommended more students be served in-district.
An information session on the program was held this week at Mead, so parents could tour the wing of the school that will house the program. Merlone said at least two students have been assigned to what will be called ACES at Mead, and three others are in the process.
Eventually, the program could grow to accommodate up to 40 students from across the district as well as surrounding towns.
In the 2017-18 school year, out of 511 Ansonia students with identified disabilities, 37 had emotional disabilities, according to state figures. About a dozen in grades K-12 attend ACES’ Mill Road School in North Haven. The program at Mead School will start for grades K-3.
“It’s an opportunity to provide students with the least restrictive environment,” said Danehy. “A major bonus is that this model will allow ACES and Mead students to learn from one another.”
In addition to specialized instruction, participants will attend gym, art, lunch and special programs with other students at Mead School.
The cost will remain the same to Ansonia, at $59,000 for each student. The program will start with an administrator, teacher, teacher’s aide and physical therapist. Plans call for the staff to grow as the student population does.
“When we break even (we) will share revenue with Ansonia,” said Danehy.
Ansonia is planning a second information session once the program opens next month. To learn more, contact Ansonia Public Schools or ACES at tdanehy@aces.org.