Transition Plan for Scranton State School for the Deaf Will Benefit Students, Community
Western PA School for the Deaf will operate school on current campus
HARRISBURG, Pa., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Starting with the 2009-10 school year, the acclaimed Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf will begin providing education to deaf and hard of hearing students at the facility that currently houses the Scranton State School for the Deaf, a move that will permanently preserve quality education services in northeastern Pennsylvania for the deaf and hard of hearing, Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today.
"The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a track record of success and is committed to ensuring every child at the Scranton State School for the Deaf will continue to receive the services and opportunities necessary to meet their unique needs," Secretary Zahorchak said.
"Every single student enrolled in SSSD today will be able to continue learning in Scranton next year," Zahorchak said.
Under the agreement announced today, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf will take over Scranton's existing programs and continue to operate residential and day programs on the existing site of SSSD during the 2009-10 school year.
"Change is often difficult, so we have crafted a transition plan that will be as accommodating as possible to the students and their families," the secretary said.
Over a three-year period, WPSD will work with students, families and the community to transition the existing program into a permanent day program for kindergarten through 8th grades.
The transition plan calls for the commonwealth to lease the 10-acre property currently used by SSSD to a third party. The commonwealth is in conversation with Marywood University regarding a potential lease to manage the property, but Secretary Zahorchak noted WPSD also could be the lessee if Marywood opts not to lease the property. In either case, WPSD will be the entity occupying the property in 2009-10 in order to provide education to students who are currently enrolled in SSSD.
Under the three-year transition plan, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf will:
Continue the existing programs, both day and residential, for the deaf and hard of hearing on the site of SSSD for the 2009-10 school year.
Establish a permanent day program in 2010-11 for elementary and middle school aged children, while continuing to enroll new students in the day program.
Work with students currently enrolled at SSSD and their families to accommodate all children -- residential and day students -- with the educational services they need. In future years, families that prefer a residential program will be able to enroll at WPSD's 20-acre campus in suburban Pittsburgh.
"Governor Edward G. Rendell rightfully recognized that having the state directly run a school is not the best way to provide the most effective academic programs," Secretary Zahorchak said. "The agreement we are announcing today shows there is a better way -- one that is responsive to the students of the Scranton school as well as to Pennsylvania's taxpayers."
Secretary Zahorchak credited Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow for helping to craft the agreement.
"Establishing a high-quality transition plan would not have been possible without the hard work of Senator Mellow," the secretary said. "From the start of this process, he showed a tremendous commitment to SSSD students, their families and the region."
Transition efforts not requiring legislative approval will begin immediately, including working with SSSD students, families and employees to ensure any concerns are addressed. Zahorchak indicated that PDE has sent letters to all families of SSSD students about the transition, and the department has informed SSSD employees and resident school districts as well.
Senator Mellow said part of the transition plan requires WPSD to interview any qualified staff at SSSD who want to continue working with deaf and hard of hearing students.
"The Scranton State School for the Deaf has been a part of our community for more than a century, and this transition plan ensures that Scranton will be a home for high quality education for students who are deaf and hard of hearing for years to come," the senator said.
Founded in 1869, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is the largest comprehensive center for deaf education in Pennsylvania, serving more than 250 deaf and hard-of-hearing children from more than 100 school districts throughout 30 counties. It provides quality educational services and a complete extracurricular program on its 20-acre campus in suburban Pittsburgh.
Secretary Zahorchak said he hopes the involvement of such highly regarded institutions will ease any frustrations that have arisen in recent weeks as SSSD students and staff awaited details of the transition plan.
"I realize this process has been nerve-wracking for many, but the time we have invested in these last several weeks to create the best transition plan possible will benefit these students for a lifetime," he said.
CONTACT: Michael Race
(717) 783-9802
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education
HARRISBURG, Pa., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Starting with the 2009-10 school year, the acclaimed Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf will begin providing education to deaf and hard of hearing students at the facility that currently houses the Scranton State School for the Deaf, a move that will permanently preserve quality education services in northeastern Pennsylvania for the deaf and hard of hearing, Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak announced today.
"The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has a track record of success and is committed to ensuring every child at the Scranton State School for the Deaf will continue to receive the services and opportunities necessary to meet their unique needs," Secretary Zahorchak said.
"Every single student enrolled in SSSD today will be able to continue learning in Scranton next year," Zahorchak said.
Under the agreement announced today, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf will take over Scranton's existing programs and continue to operate residential and day programs on the existing site of SSSD during the 2009-10 school year.
"Change is often difficult, so we have crafted a transition plan that will be as accommodating as possible to the students and their families," the secretary said.
Over a three-year period, WPSD will work with students, families and the community to transition the existing program into a permanent day program for kindergarten through 8th grades.
The transition plan calls for the commonwealth to lease the 10-acre property currently used by SSSD to a third party. The commonwealth is in conversation with Marywood University regarding a potential lease to manage the property, but Secretary Zahorchak noted WPSD also could be the lessee if Marywood opts not to lease the property. In either case, WPSD will be the entity occupying the property in 2009-10 in order to provide education to students who are currently enrolled in SSSD.
Under the three-year transition plan, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf will:
Continue the existing programs, both day and residential, for the deaf and hard of hearing on the site of SSSD for the 2009-10 school year.
Establish a permanent day program in 2010-11 for elementary and middle school aged children, while continuing to enroll new students in the day program.
Work with students currently enrolled at SSSD and their families to accommodate all children -- residential and day students -- with the educational services they need. In future years, families that prefer a residential program will be able to enroll at WPSD's 20-acre campus in suburban Pittsburgh.
"Governor Edward G. Rendell rightfully recognized that having the state directly run a school is not the best way to provide the most effective academic programs," Secretary Zahorchak said. "The agreement we are announcing today shows there is a better way -- one that is responsive to the students of the Scranton school as well as to Pennsylvania's taxpayers."
Secretary Zahorchak credited Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow for helping to craft the agreement.
"Establishing a high-quality transition plan would not have been possible without the hard work of Senator Mellow," the secretary said. "From the start of this process, he showed a tremendous commitment to SSSD students, their families and the region."
Transition efforts not requiring legislative approval will begin immediately, including working with SSSD students, families and employees to ensure any concerns are addressed. Zahorchak indicated that PDE has sent letters to all families of SSSD students about the transition, and the department has informed SSSD employees and resident school districts as well.
Senator Mellow said part of the transition plan requires WPSD to interview any qualified staff at SSSD who want to continue working with deaf and hard of hearing students.
"The Scranton State School for the Deaf has been a part of our community for more than a century, and this transition plan ensures that Scranton will be a home for high quality education for students who are deaf and hard of hearing for years to come," the senator said.
Founded in 1869, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is the largest comprehensive center for deaf education in Pennsylvania, serving more than 250 deaf and hard-of-hearing children from more than 100 school districts throughout 30 counties. It provides quality educational services and a complete extracurricular program on its 20-acre campus in suburban Pittsburgh.
Secretary Zahorchak said he hopes the involvement of such highly regarded institutions will ease any frustrations that have arisen in recent weeks as SSSD students and staff awaited details of the transition plan.
"I realize this process has been nerve-wracking for many, but the time we have invested in these last several weeks to create the best transition plan possible will benefit these students for a lifetime," he said.
CONTACT: Michael Race
(717) 783-9802
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education
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