Classrooms designed for special needs students

By Staff
Staff Reports, Hartselle Enquirer
The community has come together in support of two outdoor recreation and classroom projects within the Hartselle City School System with both Hartselle Junior High and Hartselle High Instructional Resource Center beginning the 2005-2006 school year with new areas for adaptive P.E. and community skills learning.
Students with both physical and learning needs will utilize these areas to practice motor, social and community navigation skills in a realistic environment.
They will be able to practice walking on even, uneven, stable and unstable surfaces and to practice balance skills on and above ground level. Students will also have the opportunity to work on sitting at tables and on park benches with classmates and adults, skills that are all challenging for a child with physical needs.
Students will work on recreational skills, such as board games, picnics, preparing for and carrying out a social outing. Students at both schools have already used the project to assist with work development skills, involving clearing limbs, picking up litter, laying pavers, spreading mulch and other work-related tasks. High school students are learning lawn care jobs through the upkeep of the area at the IRC building. These skills will enable students to become productive members of society and the work force.
Students at both schools would like to thank Jamie Roden, Special Service coordinator, and the Hartselle Board of Education for having the vision to promote and support this project.
They would also like to thank the following businesses in the Hartselle community for donating materials, time and expertise: Theron Livingston of Livingston Concrete for donating time, expertise in concrete finishing, and employees; Reggie Corum of Corum's Building and Farm Center for donating building materials and gravel; Henry Bowman of Naturally Mulch for providing playground grade mulch for increased safety; Larry Hannah of Hannah's Lawn and Landscape Service for providing ground preparation and expertise landscaping; USA Concrete for donating discounted concrete; and Greg Adams' agri-science class for constructing the deck, stairs and wheelchair ramp.
Educators involved with the outdoor classroom and recreation project credit its success to the generosity and cooperation of community businesses and the school system and believe the education of students in the Hartselle City School System will continue to be enhanced because of this willingness to give and work together.