FARMINGTON -- Severely disabled secondary students at Monte Vista Elementary will be moved to a different school because some building facilities don't comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
But some parents fear the change could disrupt the sense of security their children have developed at the Farmington school."There's so many parents who are very, very upset about it . . . saying we don't want our children to be in a huge high school," said Joann Bavelas, whose 17-year-old son, Apollo, attends Monte Vista. "Is that going to be the best environment for my child, or are they going to be left in the classroom all day because it's too overwhelming?"
Monte Vista's wing for students with severe disabilities was built in 1959, before federal building requirements were created so people with disabilities could access bathroom and other facilities, said principal Helene Van Natter.
But newer wings of the school, which house elementary-age students with disabilities, are ADA compliant.
The school has 30 students with severe disabilities. Davis School District proposes moving 19 secondary students up to age 21 to Northridge or Woods Cross high schools, whose facilities meet federal standards. Teachers would move with the students.
The move will take place in time for next school year, district elementary director Marilyn Oberg said Tuesday, though the exact facility could be changed if a parent committee locates a viable alternative.
"The facilities they are now occupying are small and inadequate, so it didn't seem like good sense to us to keep them there and do extensive remodeling to make the school compliant with ADA requirements," Oberg said. "It's not changing the program for the students in any way. It's just plucking the two classes out of their current building with all the same services and kids to a different classroom."
The eight elementary students with severe disabilities will remain at the school; two older students will graduate in the spring, and one student plans to attend a local junior high.
But some parents, who met last week with district officials over the proposal, aren't so sure bustling high schools are optimal for their children. Raising $1 million to bring Monte Vista facilities up to snuff also has been suggested by parents, Bavelas said.
Most parents want their children to stay at Monte Vista, which is small, low key and safe for them to move about freely. "A lot of parents have come to trust that," Bavelas said.
But Van Natter is certain the parents and students will find the same peace of mind at either high school. Also, the move would align the district with another federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The act requires special education students to have contact with regular education peers, which is impossible for older children learning at Monte Vista.
"I really feel (the high schools) have something to offer that we don't," Van Natter said. "Change is really, really hard for the parents . . . that's the natural feeling. These parents feel that 10 times over because of the condition of their children."
The district wants to hear parental concerns, which will be weighed in determining whether alternate facilities should be sought.
"I'm willing to look into it and see what it's like," Bavelas said. "I just feel for these parents who have children who probably can't make it. I think the community needs to know."