OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – There are some changes happening in the Shawnee Mission School District. A few weeks ago we told you about the possible change in district school assignments.
Again, parents are being told their children may be re-assigned, but this time the district says it’s for a different reason. Some parents say they’re skeptical the change will be a good one for their kids.
“This school saved my son,” said Karen Anderson.
Karen Anderson is talking about the Crosstrails program at Broadmoor Tech Center in the Shawnee Mission School District. It’s a program for about 23 students with special needs, specially designed to help them succeed. Anderson says it’s working for her 16-year-old son.
“He feels good here, he feels supported, he feels successful here, and I worry that these kids will lose that feeling when they go to these, to their home schools,” Anderson said.
Anderson said last Saturday she received a letter from the district saying Crosstrails students would be moved out of their secluded program in Broadmoor, and into their neighborhood schools effective the first day of school next year.
She says she’s worried how her son will react since major changes can be upsetting to her son with Asperger’s.
“He went from F’s in the regular school to A’s here,” said Anderson.
Anderson and another parent also say they’re concerned how other students will treat their children at the new schools. District spokesperson, Leigh Anne Neal, says students are being transferred to neighborhood schools in part because a majority of parents wanted it and because the district believes it’s best for the students.
Neal also says the students will continue to have all the same educational support they have at Crosstrails, as required by their educational needs. She also says parents will have meetings with teachers and administrators to address their specific concerns.
FOX 4 spoke to a student Thursday from Crosstrails who says he’s nervous to be brought in with other students, but he hopes it’ll be something to better prepare him for college.
