District accepts donation of playground communication boards from Amberly Smiles; three installations planned

Ms. Grumala, the district’s director of student services, told the board on Aug. 4 that the district is ready to install three additional playground communication boards at Watson, Bibich and Homan elementary schools in partnership with Amberly Smiles.

Amy, a representative of the Amberly Smiles nonprofit, described the organization and the boards’ purpose: "This foundation's mission is to make a world a better, more inclusive space and we specifically help these children by helping them to access playgrounds so that they can play with their friends and their family more easily." Amy said the boards mimic common augmentative-communication devices used by students and include sensory tools on the back to assist children who need sensory breaks.

Ms. Grumala said the district already has communication boards at other elementary schools and that the new donation brings the total to four schools with boards tied to applied-skills programs. She told the board the posts are ready and the district will install the donated boards "before school starts." The board voted to accept the donation during the meeting.

The presenters noted school staff and speech-language professionals helped design the boards and that the goal is to increase playground accessibility and peer interaction for students with communication needs. District staff said volunteers and school personnel will handle installation and that district crews will mount the boards on prepared posts.

The board received the donation as a formal agenda item and approved it by voice vote.