SALEM, Ore. — A long-time program to teach the deaf and hard of hearing in the Salem-Keizer School District could soon be closing. The program allows students from Marion, Yamhill and Polk County to receive centralized education at Crossler Middle School and Sprague High School.
"This was a really amazing program," Alison Kaiser, a former teacher in the program said. "They are centrally located so these services are more efficient, more thorough and more complete for these kids."
The program allowed students to interact more quickly with staff members if a problem arose. It also gave more hands-on learning experiences for deaf and hard of hearing kids, Kaiser said.
Former staff members said the program has been around for years. In March, Salem-Keizer sent families a letter, informing them that they would be closing the program at the end of the school year, this upcoming Friday. Instead, students would be sent to their neighborhood school.
"We don't think this district can provide a free appropriate education to the deaf students that we're representing, at their neighborhood schools," Whitney Hill, a lawyer representing two families of deaf students, said.
Hill said it is illegal for Salem-Keizer to close the program, without receiving input from families. That’s due to the students being on individualized learning plans. Hill believes that sending students to their neighborhood schools could also lead to an inferior education for deaf students.
"This model's been extremely successful for students that may not need the intensity of the residential school for the deaf,” Hill said. “But you know would be completely isolated in their neighborhood schools."
Salem-Keizer denied KGW’s interview request, and said they could not comment on the lawsuit. Though a spokesperson said students will continue to receive specified services. Students will also be able to continue to learn at Crossler Middle School or Sprague High School, if they choose. Though, former staff members said the services won’t be the same.
It’s unclear why the district decided to close the centralized location for deaf and hard of hearing students. However, Salem-Keizer is facing historic budget cuts, and slashed its budget by more than $70 million.