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Photo by George Lauby
The house, 1209 West B
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Public school officials intend to buy a house near the high school where older, special-needs students can spend time and learn more about independent living. The house would be for special education students ages 18-21, said the district’s special services director Kim Cooper. Cooper estimates 8-10 students would stay at the house in a more normal setting for young adults. The house is at 1209 West B St. It is south of the high school and Da Buzz coffee shop. The district and the owner have signed a purchase agreement, with the price set at $125,000, but the deal depends on the approval of the city/county planning and zoning board, which must approve the special use of the house. Letters have been sent to neighbors within two blocks of the house, notifying them of a public hearing March 23, associate superintendent Dan Twarling said Tuesday. Neighbors are invited to call the McKinley Center with questions. The purchase price would be paid by federal stimulus money that is appropriated through the Nebraska Department of Education. “This is a good investment of those funds,” Superintendent David Engle said. “We’re meeting needs that we’ve had for a long time.” By federal law, public schools must provide special education to students with learning disabilities until age 21. Currently the students go to the high school. Only minor remodeling would be needed to the house, Twarling said, such as a small ramp on the front step and larger bathrooms, both to aid handicapped accessibility. Twarling said Cozad and Grand Island have similar programs that work well. Students would be in the house from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the school year. The program is called “community based instruction,” Cooper said. High school special education teacher Cortney Larsen and secondary special education coordinator Joyce Kimzey would oversee the day-to-day activities, which are set according to individual educational profiles (IEPs) for each special education student.
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