Parents of autistic children worried over merger plan

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Parents of autistic children worried over merger plan

Parents of autistic children are expressing strong reservations about a consolidation plan to send their children to school with others who have discipline problems. The Gazette 5/4/2006

Editorial By John Crawford

I had these same concerns just 2 years ago. John, my 20 year old autistic son attended a self-contained special school in Clinton, Maryland. But last school year, all the high school aged children were moved to a local high school. I was not in favor of the idea, none whatsoever. This notion that started about 10 years ago to integrate special needs kids into the mainstream is all about the bottom line, dollar signs $$$. (see related article at Autism - Worst Welfare Disaster In History).

It was a move that I was partially involved with initiating.. The Tanglewood Regional School was built in the 1950's long before the area was so built up. It sits right along the flight path of planes landing and taking off at Andrews AFB, less that 1/2 mile from the federal property line. When the school was built, Andrews was already there. There were no concerns about noise of overhead aircraft, or the dangers of being in the direct path of the flight line.

There was picture in the Prince Georges Journal during the summer of 1999, that showed an Air Force Cargo Plane flying over the school low enough to read the tail number. A group of Tanglewood special needs students were lined up outside, frightened by the noise of the plane. I got a call from the Principal who was asking for any help possible from parents. Apparent meetings of school officials with representatives from Andrews did not yield any resolutions.

At that point I felt it was prudent to exercise the "open-door" policy at Whitehouse.gov, and wrote an email to President Clinton. I asked him to look close at that dark brick building just outside the fence line, the next time he heads out on Air Force One. I reminded him that building was a special needs school for 88 children, and there was unresolved issues between the Air Force and the school. The school couldn't afford to up and move; or to simply disburse these children to other schools in the county. The Air Force contended that it could not change it's flight paths due to the myriad of cost cuts endured, and they really had no place to expand or move due to sprawl. I asked the President to suggest a compromise from both sides.

About 2 weeks later I got a response from the Whitehouse stating that President Clinton had asked the Air Force to investigate the situation. Soon after I got a letter from the base HQ basically saying it wasn't their responsibility, it was the county (Prince Georges) school boards. Personally, I didn't care. As I burdened taxpayer, it was gonna cost me either way, whether the county builds another school, or if the air force has to adjust it's flight paths; it's all tax payers money.

I don't really know if there was a compromise. I do know that a new wing was built onto Surrattsville High School for use by special needs children that opened for the 2004-2005 school year.

As it turns out, I was duly impressed with how the move was handled, and the enormous effort that went into making the transition possible. Instead of integrating the special needs students into the main school, they built a new wing onto the school, a self-contained building that has controlled access. In essence, not much changed except for the nice new classrooms and facilities. Most of the teachers moved with their students, and the quality of what the remarkable teachers and aids do for those children has only gotten better. When possible, the special needs students do things with the regular students, but under very closely supervised and controlled situations.

As far as extended bus rides, we lucked out. The high school is less than 2 miles from the Tanglewood, and closer to where we live. There are actually 3 high schools closer to us, but they are in Charles County.

Hopefully, the students and parents affected by the latest decision will be as fortunate as we were.