New Norwich special education program will keep students in district: how it's a win for all

A new special education program in Norwich will save the district money and keep Norwich students in the city.

The Norwich Board of Education approved the creation of the Rose City School at Bishop special education program Tuesday. The program, which will be on the first floor of the Bishop School Building, will start with five students next school year, and serve students who would otherwise be placed out of district.

Norwich Public Schools (NPS) has successfully operated two special education programs for five years, and needs to take action to control rising costs, with the district currently paying $12 million for 126 outplaced students, Acting Superintendent Susan Lessard said.

“There will be a lot of cost savings in transportation and outplacement costs,” she said.

The new program, which will not replace existing programs, will serve students that have a higher need than what STARS and TEAM can give them, Director of Student Services Lisa Hughes said.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for students who are ready to come back, but need that continued therapeutic level of support,” she said.

Rose City School program could become revenue source

The Rose City School is inspired by the work done at Stone K-8 Day School in Fall River, Massachusetts, as NPS personnel visited with the Stone principal and toured the school.

For the first year of the program, the district wants to break even. Eventually, the program will grow to two floors, with elementary on one floor and middle school on another, Lessard said.

The program could become a revenue source for Norwich Public Schools. When a student from another area school needs outplacement, the NPS program could take them in if the student's needs match the program.

A guidebook for referral and implementation is in development and will be finished by the end of July, Lessard said.

Staying in district means extracurricular activities are available

If a student is doing well in their current outplacement, they will stay there. When a student is able to return to the district, they can participate in student life, which they can’t do in an out-of-town setting, Lessard said.

“Let’s say some of these kids are in middle school, and they want to be involved in sports. We can bus them to after-school sports and we can slowly get them back into the schools,” she said.

Despite the current budget situation, the district has reduced costs and moved money to start the program. Lessard is also making sure staff for this program can fit parameters for grant funding that the district is receiving, Lessard said.

“We’ve done a lot of restructuring,” she said.

To make room at Bishop, which is currently an office, the district will keep 90 Town St., and relocate three departments, the superintendent, assistant superintendent, and student services, Lessard said.

The district will start posting for jobs for this program at the end of May – for a school psychologist, a social worker and a special education teacher. Staffing will expand based on enrollment, and can support the rest of the district as needed, Lessard said.