Madison parent urges district not to close Holtzman Learning Center, says students need specialized setting

Chandra Blofeld, a registered public commenter, used her allotted time at an Instruction Work Group meeting to urge the board not to close Holtzman Learning Center and to preserve specialized staff and programming there.

Blofeld said there were “many rumors” about the center’s future and called the district’s apparent plan “setting these children… for disaster.” She said Holtzman serves students who the regular schools “don’t want” and praised staff as “a godsend,” adding that some students attend Holtzman only a few hours at first and later thrive when given appropriate supports. She named one student she said benefited from Holtzman and thanked staff leaders who had worked with that student.

Board Chair Mulder and the chair’s designee reminded Blofeld that public comment is not an interactive conversation; the speaker continued and asked the board to “really reconsider closing Holtzman and moving those kids to your regular schools” because she said the students need the “least restrictive structure” currently provided there.

The board did not take action or ask for an immediate staff report on Holtzman during the meeting; the comment was followed by the board’s routine approval of meeting minutes. The district did not provide program details, analysis or a timeline for any potential change to Holtzman during the public comment period.