Maya Townsend, a public commenter, urged the District 303 Board of Education to reinstate adaptive physical education after hearing it would be discontinued at a high school. Townsend told the board she had been a participant in adaptive PE and described it as “a magical place where everyone can have fun and feel safe and supported,” and asked the district to reinstate the program this semester or next.

The district later addressed the concern during the board meeting. Laurel O’Brien, a district student‑services staff member, said there had been a misunderstanding and that adaptive PE is not being discontinued districtwide. O’Brien said, “For this coming school year, we do not have that need at North High School,” and explained that student‑services assignments change year to year “so we go where the kids are.” She added that if needs at North change during the year, the district would reassess and place staff accordingly.

The issue arose during the public comment portion of the Aug. 11 board meeting and was raised again during board business, when a trustee asked for clarification. O’Brien and Dr. Rich (district staff) said adaptive PE and related services such as occupational and physical therapy continue to be provided in the district for students who require them; placement decisions are made by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 team and by district staff working to provide services in the least restrictive environment.

O’Brien characterized current need at North High as limited: “To my understanding there is one student who has, what could be…needs that could qualify under adaptive PE but can be met within the general‑education setting with that adaptive PE support.” She emphasized that the district starts with supports in the general‑education classroom and adds specialized placements only if needed. No formal board action or vote on adaptive PE took place at the meeting.

The exchange consolidated public comment and the later staff clarification into a single district response: adaptive PE remains a district service, staffing shifts annually based on where students with qualifying needs attend school, and the district will modify staffing if student needs change during the school year.

District officials did not provide a timeline for any program changes because O’Brien said current placements are driven by student needs and IEP/504 team determinations. The board did not take formal action on the matter at the meeting.