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District to move two ASD classrooms from Thornton Creek to Ridgewood amid rising enrollment
Summary
Because of growth at Thornton Creek the district plans to move two autism spectrum disorder (ASD) classrooms to Ridgewood; the district said parents have been notified, teachers and some support staff will move with the classes, and transportation and ancillary services will be retained as required by IEPs.
Northville Public Schools staff told the board that two district autism spectrum disorder (ASD) classrooms currently housed at Thornton Creek will relocate to Ridgewood for the coming school year because Thornton Creek’s enrollment has outgrown available space.
District presenters said the ASD classrooms serve students who come from across the district rather than only from a single home school. Program leaders and Ridgewood staff reviewed potential classroom spaces and identified rooms the district judged suitable; Ridgewood principal Amy Terry and the receiving staff have already visited Thornton Creek and planned transition steps.
Presenters said one of the two ASD classrooms is projected to have six students next year and the other five, and that parents of affected students have been notified. The district emphasized that special‑education transportation and IEP services remain in effect; some ancillary providers (for example, occupational therapy) will continue to serve the relocated classrooms and staff said they will strive to keep ancillary assignments consistent where possible.
Two ASD teachers — identified in the meeting as Kelly and Brie — will move with the classrooms; presenters said the district’s goal is to preserve as much staff consistency as possible. The move will require modest facility adjustments (for example, added fencing along an exterior pathway at one location and signage) and the district said those costs are not significant.
Board members acknowledged the emotional cost of moving well‑established classrooms and staff and thanked teachers and parents for their cooperation. No vote or formal policy change was recorded; the item was described as a programmatic relocation required by shifting enrollment patterns.
