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| NewsMonday, August 13, 2007 7:20 PM CDT |
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Hammitt School expands building, staff and programs
NORMAL -- Hammitt Junior-Senior High School students will see some pretty big changes when they start school Aug. 23. There is 4,800 square feet of new space, new classrooms, more staff and new programs, including one for older children with severe autism. "The ones who've been here (for summer school) helped us pack and do some decision-making," said Clint Conway, assistant director of academic services and the high school's principal. A lot has happened since summer school ended Aug. 6: A former loading dock was converted into a recreation room; appliances are ready to install in the life skills rooms; walls were painted; and desks were moved into place. "We are on schedule," said Conway. Teachers started to prepare students before school ended last spring. "Change is difficult for some (of our) students," Conway said. The school serves students up to age 22 who have behavioral and emotional problems. They are bused to the former Eureka Co. building in Normal and represent towns in a 60-mile radius. The students are referred to Hammitt from Normal-based Unit 5, Bloomington District 87 and the Tri-County Special Education Association, which covers DeWitt, Logan and McLean counties. Hammitt now has 62 students. It was founded in 2002 with 16 students. It is part of The Baby Fold, a non-profit child and family service organization. The $88,450 expansion will be paid for by the Illinois State Board of Education and private donations. The Baby Fold board also is giving $40,000 toward the project, spokesman Pete Moore said. "The Baby Fold's expansion comes in response to a growing need for special education of severe-needs students, particularly in the area of autism," Moore said. The bigger school has a new name -- Hammitt Junior-Senior High School -- to reflect the addition of two junior high classrooms that will serve about 16 students. Previously, the students attended Hammitt Elementary School, 108 E. Willow St., Normal. Close to 90 students will continue to attend the elementary school, said Julie Payne, The Baby Fold's director of development and public relations. Also joining Hammitt Junior-Senior High School are six students in the new Challenges program, designed for students with severe autism. Their classroom includes a small, quiet area with pillows and soft objects to calm children who are distressed or agitated. A nearby room will have a variety of items to create sensations: A lighted tube with bubbles flowing up and down inside, large balls for sitting and bouncing, soft music and small objects with different surfaces. "Since kids with autism have a different way of processing sensory input (sight, sound, touch), you sometimes have to give them different types of sensory input to help them calm themselves and feel comfortable," said Dianne Schultz, director of administrative services. "The facility is great," said lead Challenges teacher Kim Snyder. In the past, students in similar elementary programs were integrated into other high schools and some had trouble adjusting, Schultz said. The new program will help them graduate into the community and transition from school to adulthood. "The more we can do for the students, the better off it will be for everyone," Snyder said. Hammitt Junior-Senior High offers vocational services and works with 14 businesses -- including a preschool, pharmacies and a nursery -- so students can learn job skills. "Pre-employment" and social skills are part of the training. Some students have found full-time jobs through the program, said Joe Peters, who coordinates the community education program. When it opened in 1972, Hammitt was called The Child Development Center. It was renamed in 1982 to honor the Rev. William A. and Gwendolyn Hammitt, superintendents of The Baby Fold from 1939 to 1974. The Baby Fold serves more than 1,000 families through Central Illinois each year. FYIHammitt Junior-High School was founded with 16 students in 2002 as Hammitt High School. It serves students with behavioral and emotional disabilities who are referred from other schools in DeWitt, Logan and McLean counties. It is operated by the nonprofit Baby Fold organization. What's new • Challenges program for high school students with severe autism • Junior high students, formerly at Hammitt Elementary School, join the high school • Nine new full-time and one part-time staff members in nursing, vocational, computer technology and the autism program • New, larger recreation space/gym; vocational/life skills classroom; lab space for nutrition, cooking and healthy living; enhanced computer lab and instructional space • Conference room; classroom for future growth GO!What: Open house When: 3 to 6 p.m. Aug. 22 Where: Hammitt Junior-Senior High School, 1500 Fort Jesse Road, Suite A (entrance and parking off Towanda Avenue) By the numbers88,450: Number of dollars spent on the expansion project 40,000: Goal in dollars set by The Baby Fold for board to donate 14,000: Number of square feet after a 4,800-square-foot expansion 62: Number of students 34: Number of faculty and administrators 6: Number of students in Challenges program E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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