Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST JORDAN -- Parents, teachers and some students rallied Thursday outside a Jordan District special needs school in protest of planned cuts there.
The protesters stood on the sidewalk outside the Kauri Sue Hamilton School on 13400 South and 2700 West, calling on the district to reconsider its plans.
- 19 full-time teaching positions eliminated
- 69 full-time aide positions replaced with 34 part-time positions
- 9 district staff positions eliminated
Last week, the district announced plans to eliminate 19 teaching jobs from its special education department. It will also reduce the number of full-time aides from 69 to 35 part-time aides.
"I think it will be extremely hard on them," said parent Cheryl Jackson, whose son Bradley attends the school.
Jackson said some students have such severe disabilities, they need almost constant attention. She and others fear cutting the staff will lead to more problems.
"He needs one on one all the time. He can't be left alone, and he's aggressive. We have to have the aides in the classroom to help the teachers to be able to handle him." said Lillian Bowles, whose son also attends a special education school.
"You've got kids who need diaper changes, who throw up, who have seizures, who have medical problems," said parent Doug Beckstrand.
Jordan District spokesman Steven Dunham said administrators empathize with the parents and students, but funding cuts are forcing the cutbacks. He said the district is confident, however, that the students will be safe and their needs will be met.
"We truly wish that we could maintain all of our personnel in all of our special needs programs," Dunham said.
Dunham said Jordan District lost 40 percent of its special needs students during the split that created the Canyons School District. As a result, the class sizes are already down, meaning fewer teachers and aides are needed.
The Jordan District has three schools set up for students with special needs. The spokesman said even with the cuts, the district will have one of the best special education programs in the Intermountain West.
-----
Story compiled with contributions from Marc Giauque and Nicole Gonzales.
---
