Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,158
- Reaction score
- 7
News for Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa
South Dakota's budget woes could mean an end to the South Dakota School for the Deaf but not all of its services.
If the school closes, as the governor has suggested, the board of regents would transition it to an outreach only program.
The school serves MaKenzie Hageman in its outreach program now. She's the only deaf student at her school but one of more than 400 across the state waiting to see whether legislators will close the school for the deaf.
"Well, I think it's kind of sad and I have mixed feelings about it," Hageman said.
Hageman is a freshman at Waverly South Shore and enjoys going there. With friends learning sign language, she says hanging out with them is easy.
Sshe knows some have a different experience.
"I'm very happy in my situation here but I understand that deaf people, we're all different and have different needs," Hageman said.
She says students who don't go to the School for the Deaf will be affected if the school closes.
"As a little girl, I was happy that I could go to summer school there and I feel bad that other younger kids might not have the chance," Hageman said.
As the state crunches its budget, Hageman understands it's difficult to know where to cut. But she also feels for the people who'd lose their jobs or others who wouldn't share the mainstream experience she does.
"I've got a lot of friends who have enjoyed learning sign language," Hageman said. "And you know at the deaf school it is fun to be around other deaf people and socializing is really easy."
Currently, the School for the Deaf has about 30 students on campus and is serving 388 through its outreach program.
South Dakota's budget woes could mean an end to the South Dakota School for the Deaf but not all of its services.
If the school closes, as the governor has suggested, the board of regents would transition it to an outreach only program.
The school serves MaKenzie Hageman in its outreach program now. She's the only deaf student at her school but one of more than 400 across the state waiting to see whether legislators will close the school for the deaf.
"Well, I think it's kind of sad and I have mixed feelings about it," Hageman said.
Hageman is a freshman at Waverly South Shore and enjoys going there. With friends learning sign language, she says hanging out with them is easy.
Sshe knows some have a different experience.
"I'm very happy in my situation here but I understand that deaf people, we're all different and have different needs," Hageman said.
She says students who don't go to the School for the Deaf will be affected if the school closes.
"As a little girl, I was happy that I could go to summer school there and I feel bad that other younger kids might not have the chance," Hageman said.
As the state crunches its budget, Hageman understands it's difficult to know where to cut. But she also feels for the people who'd lose their jobs or others who wouldn't share the mainstream experience she does.
"I've got a lot of friends who have enjoyed learning sign language," Hageman said. "And you know at the deaf school it is fun to be around other deaf people and socializing is really easy."
Currently, the School for the Deaf has about 30 students on campus and is serving 388 through its outreach program.