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Parents, students and caregivers urge Dysart board to keep Willow Canyon STC classroom in place
Summary
Multiple parents, students and caregivers told the Dysart Unified District governing board the planned move of a special education STC classroom from Willow Canyon High School to Shadow Ridge will harm students’ routines, social ties and vocational opportunities and that families were not notified before the last vote.
Dozens of parents, students and care providers urged the Dysart Unified District governing board to reverse or reconsider a decision to relocate a special education (STC) classroom from Willow Canyon High School to Shadow Ridge, saying the change will disrupt students’ routines, increase anxiety and limit vocational training opportunities.
Parents and caregivers said they learned about the relocation only after it had been acted on at a prior meeting and that the district’s stated reasons — bringing students “back to their home schools,” creating permanent locations and improving transportation efficiency — did not match families’ experience of increased travel time and loss of consistency.
“Bringing students back to their home schools — you are literally taking an entire classroom of more than 20 students and forcing them out of their home school while separating them from their siblings,” parent Amy Burrell told the board. She said she has a master’s degree in special education and that the move appeared to be driven by cost-saving measures rather than student needs.
Several speakers described the change as especially damaging for older students approaching graduation. “This isn’t just about a school switch,” said Sarah Corrigan, who identified herself as the parent of a junior at Willow. “She’s autistic. Her school, her routine, her teachers, her familiar hallways has been her anchor.”
Caregivers and district employees also warned about longer bus rides and the practical effects of moving students away from school-based vocational programs. “Not all growth is gained just inside the confines of their SDC classroom,” Burrell said. Another speaker asked whether special education students would still be able to participate in West Neck vocational programming after the move; the transcript reflects the phrase “West Neck” as raised by a commenter.
Families proposed alternatives including starting a new STC class at Shadow Ridge for incoming students while allowing current Willow Canyon students to remain until they graduate. Several parents urged the district to engage with families before implementing changes they said had already been decided.
The board did not take formal action during the public-comment period on the relocation; speakers said the decision had been voted on at a previous meeting and that parents were not notified in advance.
The public-comment session is governed by Arizona open‑meeting law; the board read the board‑opening reminder citing the state statute used to limit immediate board action in response to public comments.
The board has not, during this meeting, announced any new vote or reversal on the Willow Canyon to Shadow Ridge move. Members of the public said they will continue to press the district for an explanation, documentation of the decision and potential alternatives.
