The State Board of Education approved a plan to revamp the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind during its monthly meeting last week.
If the 10-year comprehensive plan is fully implemented it will mean major changes to the campus in Romney and in the school’s mission.
An education department audit done two years ago showed a variety of problems at the schools, so in July of 2011 the State School Board hired Dr. Lynn Boyer as superintendent and gave her the task of correcting these problems.
Boyer said the audit found buildings that are deteriorated and out of date and a need to update the curriculum to meet state standards.
“They didn’t see current materials, they didn’t see sufficient technology, they interviewed and observed teachers teaching without relevance to the content standards in the state,” Boyer said. “The organizational leadership was somewhat in disarray so they did not believe that it was an efficient and effective organizational structure.”
In an effort to address concerns in the audit the school has put together it’s first-ever 10-year comprehensive plan.
“And we had to talk about ‘what is it we do now and what we want to do in 10 years? What do we want the children to have access to?’” Boyer said. “How do we believe we can design a campus that will be more accessible for them, that will make it more of a community for them?”
Boyer said one goal is to retain some of the school’s history while accommodating technology and amenities like health and wellness facilities that many other schools across the nation offer.
Currently there are 19 buildings on the campus, eight of which are not used. There are three education buildings and two freestanding dormitories. They range in age with the oldest dating to 1845 and the newest to 1992.
“As it’s designed now, even though it’s always been a campus for children who are blind as well as deaf, the design of the campus is really difficult for them to navigate,” Boyer said.
“With the change in the use of some buildings we have some children who are blind who are now in the position to traverse across curbed walkways which are not the easiest for them and some distance, 10 to 15 minutes walking, several times a day.”
The plan calls for drastic and controversial changes that would completely alter the look of the campus and how it functions. Boyer said many of the older buildings can’t accommodate modern educational equipment or meet the needs of today’s students.
“The intention is to have a campus that is 21st century, that incorporates all the design features that we know these children need with classrooms that we know will enhance their learning,” Boyer said.
It would cost an estimated $75 to $80 million to implement the plan in its entirety. At least 11 buildings would be torn down and a set of new buildings would be erected over the next ten years. Some alumni are concerned that the school will tear down buildings and not have the money to build new ones, making it possible to justify closing the school.
1968 graduate, and First Vice President for the National Federation of the Blind West Virginia, Ed McDonald, said both blind and deaf alumni are also worried that the plan calls for the two student populations to share some facilities.
“Because communication can be difficult between the two populations that based on some past experience opens up the possibility for possible bullying, that kind of thing,” McDonald said. “But even more than that I think just to maintain the integrity and the specialization of the two instructional programs causes some concern.”
Boyer said the school does not intend to have blind and deaf students in the classrooms at the same time, and it will be important to make sure children who are basically unable to communicate with each other are not bullied.
And she emphasizes that closing the school is not part of the plan. Boyer believes a new, modern campus will help increase enrollment and make sending a child to school there more appealing.
“Because of the design of the campus, because of the age of the buildings, the instructional options within the way the buildings are designed now, we have families who come and counties who would like to place children here who are not absolutely assured that the education this child would get here is comparable to what they would get in the county,” Boyer said.
Currently there are about 125 students on the Romney campus. The school also provides educational resources for counties with blind and deaf students. Boyer said the plan calls for ramping up the educational outreach and technical assistance that’s offered throughout the state.
“One of the buildings will be repurposed to be a center for excellence in teaching and learning for these populations,” Boyer said. “We’ll be doing professional development there. We’ll be repurposing it so it’s hospitality, career option, we’ll be training students there.”
The plan calls for renovating the dorms so teachers who come for professional development will have a place to stay, and for space where higher education institutions can locate satellite programs.
Boyer said the next step is to find money to implement the plan. The School Building Authority has made several visits to look at the campus and she anticipates needing a campaign to raise private money as well. Boyer said as the school moves forward it may also have to alter the plan to address concerns by alumni and the community.
