Alternative School, Special Education Classes To Share Area At WPHS
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WHEELING -- The new alternative school in Ohio County Schools will be sharing an area with special education classrooms at the south end of Wheeling Park High School, but the students will be kept separate and have their own doors in and out of the school, according to school officials.
Board of education members discussed the issue during their meeting Monday night at the board office.
The alternative school is presently housed at the annex building at Triadelphia Middle School, which is now being considered for demolition. Among other structural problems, the annex has no heat.
The alternative school is expected to be moved to WPHS sometime in early November.
Board member Andy Garber facilitated the meeting on Monday as board president David Croft was absent.
Garber said he recently asked WPHS Principal Meredith Dailer to give him a tour at the school of the area where the alternative school will be located.
"She explained to me how it was going to work, because at this time there are some special education classrooms down there," he said. "But they have a very proficient plan in how they are going to segregate the areas between the special ed kids and the alternative school kids."
The alternative school will have three classrooms, Garber continued. Teachers will be in each room, and the students will rotate between the rooms as they would in traditional school.
"The special ed kids will still have their space - particularly those kids who need the time out room or the quiet room or the sensory room," he said. "There will be areas for them to go to."
Dailer showed Garber the special education students and the alternative school students will have their own separate doors to enter and exit the school.
"It is very well-planned. My hat is off to (Director of Student Intervention and Support Programs ) Nicole Shepherd on her plan for the building."
Board member Jerry Ames asked how lunches would be provided to the students in both areas. He was told each group would be staying in their classrooms for lunch.
There is some exterior construction at the southeast end of the building that is related to the move, Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones noted. A new door and wall is going to accommodate the alternative school, and the special education students are getting a shade structure as they go outside often and the sun beats down upon them, he said.
Board members unanimously voted earlier this month to put the project out to bid and see what the cost will be to raze the Triadelphia Middle School annex.
The bidding process will probably take six to eight weeks, according to Steven Bieniek, business manager for the district.
The board is next set to meet at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the board office, 2203 National Road, Elm Grove.