In a collaborative move, Gorham’s Little Falls School could house special-needs students from five school districts starting by the fall.
The Gorham School Committee last week approved leasing the school to the Sebago Alliance, which has developed its own program for students with special needs. School districts in the alliance are Gorham, Westbrook, Windham, Raymond and School Administrative District 6. The Little Falls School was last used as a school in the fall of 2003 for the sixth grade before the new middle school opened. The Gorham contract with Sebago Alliance begins on July 1.
The districts now individually send its students out, paying tuition to schools like Sweetser and Spurwink.
“The primary focus is to have a close-to-home program that meets the students’ needs,” Michael Moore, program coordinator for the alliance, said Tuesday.
But the program would also reduce tuition costs for special-needs students from alliance schools. If the alliance program served 24 students, Gorham would save $12,000-$15,000 for each student and $8,000-$12,000 per child if the new program served 16 students, according to Gorham Superintendent Ted Sharp.
Westbrook Superintendent Stan Sawyer said Wednesday the effort is a great opportunity. “It’s going to be a better program for the students and from what we’ve determined a savings for taxpayers,” Sawyer said. “It’s a win-win.”
The nonprofit alliance will rent Little Falls School in a three-year contract ending June 30, 2010.
Gorham would likely have five to seven students enrolled in the program next fall. Gorham and the other districts in the alliance will continue to pay tuition. Sharp said the proposal also gives the alliance control over the staff that carries out the program.
The alliance applied for a $30,000 grant, but received one for $20,000 to develop the new initiative. Moore said it’s a special-ed, day-treatment program for students who have educational and behavioral health needs. It will service middle-school and ninth-grade students, said Moore, the former Gorham school superintendent.
The plan still requires approval from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education. Sharp said the program has been two years in the development stage.
“It’s a shining example of what collaborative can and ought to be doing in the state of Maine,” Sharp said.
The state is urging regionalization of programs to save money.
Sharp said the Little Falls School fits the size required by the joint effort. The school has nearly 8,000 square feet. Sharp said Little Falls School also is well located for the alliance.
“It’s in very good condition,” Moore said about the building,
The new mission the school dislodges the Gorham Recreation Department’s child-care programs.
Cindy Hazelton, recreation director, said Tuesday its programs would continue at other locations following this school year. Hazelton said the before- and after-school programs would move to the community center, which is the former Frederick Robie School on Gray Road, in September. That program has an average of 55 children a week during the school year.
The department’s seven-week summer junior day camp, which has 60 students, will be held at the Narragansett School.
Sharp said the program could move after three years to the White Rock Elementary School. Sharp said the contract is in “concert” with the expected opening of the new White Rock School in the fall of 2010.
He said the present White Rock School would be more central for the alliance than Little Falls. The SAD 6 towns include Buxton, Standish, Frye Island, Hollis and Limington.
Paul Kelly, business manager for Gorham School Department, said Gorham would be paid an annual rental fee of $3,000 from the alliance.
Sharp also said Gorham’s contract with the alliance allows for an opportunity to access the program and the facility after three years. “It doesn’t commit us to an extended period of time,” Sharp said.
Last summer, Gorham Town Council considered asking the school department to turn over the school to the town.The council voted 3-2 in favor of acquiring the school, but lacked the necessary four votes to pass the request.
A study of Gorham’s Fire Department had recommended that the South Windham Fire Station, which Gorham shares with Windham, be replaced. The study listed the possibility of converting Little Falls School into a fire station as an option along with building new.
The Little Falls School, which has served as an elementary and then later as a kindergarten, replaced the Robie School in the mid 1950s.
Alliance sees new mission for Little Falls School
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