Local Elections

By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer

A meeting is set for Tuesday night at Jones Elementary School to give Jones' parents another chance to get information and ask questions about the possible combination of a new Jones Elementary with a new St. Louis School for students with special needs.

The parents' meeting will take place at 6 p.m. in the Jones cafeteria. Tyler ISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid will be at the meeting.

The possible combination of the two facilities could happen if voters approve TISD's $124.9 million bond election to replace six campuses. Election Day is Nov. 4. That bond proposal, which represents Phase 2 of a multi-phase approach to addressing facility needs in the district, proposes to replace Clarkston, Griffin, Orr, Jones and Woods elementary schools, as well as the St. Louis School for students with special needs.

Reid has said there have been ongoing discussions for the last couple of months on the idea. He has previously met with the Jones community about the idea and the St. Louis community, he has said. Principals from each of the two schools have spoken favorably about the idea of combining the two campuses.

The superintendent said earlier this month that the district is looking at this possibility because, "First and foremost it's to best meet the needs of children in TISD."

"We are required to meet the needs of our special education students in the least restrictive environment. That's a federal law. Many of our children at the St. Louis School are in need of having interaction with children who are not handicapped," he said. "We see this as an opportunity, since we are looking at constructing facilities, to put them together and provide that opportunity in a closer proximity.

"We acknowledge that both the Jones Elementary students and the St. Louis students many times may need the separation as well," Reid said.

He said the district could design a facility that way. Combining the two schools and building one instead of two would also cut down on some costs, Reid has said. The program for students with special needs would serve as a center within Jones and still provide all the same services. Such a facility would also increase the size of Jones. Reid has said Jones would be built as a 500-student model, which would provide more space for the future or for more magnet program options.

At the last TISD board meeting, Reid said the district plans to move forward with allowing architects to work on designs for a combined Jones Elementary and St. Louis School facility.