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School getting major renovations - MassLive.com
An outdoor classroom, a basketball court, soundproof rooms and updated technology are all in the works for the Willie Ross School for the Deaf.
The school is undergoing major renovations to its 1917-circa building and its newly-acquired acre of land.
"We wanted to preserve the current structure because it is a meaningful building in the school's history," said the school president and chief executive officer, Louis Abbate.
The renovations have been funded with the help of donations made by area businesses and individuals. Thus far, the donations amount to more than $300,000, Abbate said.
"Corporate business, local business and individuals have been extremely generous," he said. "I think they believe in what we are doing here."
Willie Ross was founded by parents of deaf children in 1967. Currently, the school has 70 students ranging from the ages of 3 to 22. While most students are from Western Massachusetts the school has also had students from Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Abbate said students follow the same curriculum required for public schools in the state.
"Students do take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System and, if they pass it, they are eligible for a high school diploma from our school and the respective town they live in," Abbate said.
The school offers services for students who have limited hearing, have cochlear implants or are completely deaf.
"We want all of our students to either go onto college or enter the work force prepared," he said. The projects fit with the school's mission of helping every child succeed based on what their needs are, he added.
The idea that all deaf children can be taught in the same way as hearing students is wrong, Abbate said. "We work with the individual needs of every student," he said.
The Conway School of Landscape Design designed the new classrooms as well as the outdoor space plans. Renovations include new energy-efficient windows, air conditioning and updated technology for the classrooms. The project will also add a classroom at East Longmeadow High School, Willie Ross' partner school, according to Abbate
The new land, which is adjacent to the property, will be used for a playing field, an outdoor classroom and lot of open playing space.
"We want students to be able to cross-country ski or go sledding in the winter," he said. "Students will be able to explore science, botany and agriculture right on campus."
Abbate said the indoor projects should be completed by mid-August and the open space should be ready for use by year's end.
An outdoor classroom, a basketball court, soundproof rooms and updated technology are all in the works for the Willie Ross School for the Deaf.
The school is undergoing major renovations to its 1917-circa building and its newly-acquired acre of land.
"We wanted to preserve the current structure because it is a meaningful building in the school's history," said the school president and chief executive officer, Louis Abbate.
The renovations have been funded with the help of donations made by area businesses and individuals. Thus far, the donations amount to more than $300,000, Abbate said.
"Corporate business, local business and individuals have been extremely generous," he said. "I think they believe in what we are doing here."
Willie Ross was founded by parents of deaf children in 1967. Currently, the school has 70 students ranging from the ages of 3 to 22. While most students are from Western Massachusetts the school has also had students from Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Abbate said students follow the same curriculum required for public schools in the state.
"Students do take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System and, if they pass it, they are eligible for a high school diploma from our school and the respective town they live in," Abbate said.
The school offers services for students who have limited hearing, have cochlear implants or are completely deaf.
"We want all of our students to either go onto college or enter the work force prepared," he said. The projects fit with the school's mission of helping every child succeed based on what their needs are, he added.
The idea that all deaf children can be taught in the same way as hearing students is wrong, Abbate said. "We work with the individual needs of every student," he said.
The Conway School of Landscape Design designed the new classrooms as well as the outdoor space plans. Renovations include new energy-efficient windows, air conditioning and updated technology for the classrooms. The project will also add a classroom at East Longmeadow High School, Willie Ross' partner school, according to Abbate
The new land, which is adjacent to the property, will be used for a playing field, an outdoor classroom and lot of open playing space.
"We want students to be able to cross-country ski or go sledding in the winter," he said. "Students will be able to explore science, botany and agriculture right on campus."
Abbate said the indoor projects should be completed by mid-August and the open space should be ready for use by year's end.