CPS discusses prioritizing students with special needs in a hybrid phased-in approach
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Board of Education met early Thursday morning during a work session to discuss a phased-in hybrid plan for the return of in-person students.
The board discussed what that plan would look like and who would be included in each phase.
During that work session the board discussed a plan that prioritizes students with special needs, Kindergarten through 2nd grade. That model would allow those students to return to in-person learning four days a week.
Alyse Monsees, Columbia Public Schools' Director of Special Services spoke at the meeting on Thursday, saying how important this phased-in model would be for students with special needs, as well as teachers.
“Not only obviously is this best for teachers," Monsees said. "It is best for our students, our... youngest learners, who are just learning... they need to be in school.”
According to CPS officials, there are around 2,000 CPS students with IEP’s, and each student and their needs are unique, so it's not a one size fits all plan.
“There's a curriculum that obviously the teachers have to create because it is individualized," Monsees said. "So, that is, that is a lot on their plates to do. And so by having the students in-seat, that would allow them obviously to see them four days a week for their special education services, and we wouldn't be trying to do things asynchronously.”
Theresa King, a CPS parent who has two children with IEP’s said the district has done their best under the circumstances they are under, but that virtual learning has been hard, especially with her youngest.
"Pretty much from the time the school starts up until the time school ends I am having a sit right next to her to make sure she's paying attention," King said.
King said her oldest child also has an IEP teacher and needs that face to face interaction with a teacher for help.
"She can't get that help she needs if... a teacher is trying to help everybody else in the class," King said.
King says she really hopes her children can return to in-person learning soon because she doesn't think her children are getting the help that they need as much virtually as they would if they were in class.
"We're doing the best that we can," King said. "But if she was at school, I know that she'll be at our desk and she'll be paying attention and won't be distracted."
As of right now, CPS is still fully online learning, but the Columbia Board of Education does plan to continue discussing the phased-in approach at their next meeting in October.
