REEDS deaf and hard-of-hearing program to buy nearby building; Norton administrators plan schedule to preserve inclusion

REEDS Collaborative, which operates a regional program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, told the Norton School Committee on April 16 that it has executed a purchase-and-sale agreement for a building at 399 Old Colony Road in Norton and plans to relocate classrooms beginning September 2025.

Dina Medeiros, executive director (presenting on behalf of REEDS during the meeting), said the purchase follows a year‑and‑a‑half review of program space needs and months of discussions with Norton administration. REEDS serves pre‑K through grade 12; Medeiros said the collaborative currently counts 52 enrolled students systemwide, with 45 physically attending in Norton schools. She described classroom and specialist staffing levels that support inclusion in Norton schools: 10 full‑time teachers, 13 full‑time specialized assistants, 17 full‑time and two part‑time interpreters, and four full‑time specialists (speech/language and counseling roles).

Medeiros and Superintendent Jen O'Neil said Norton hosts REEDS classrooms across multiple buildings (JCS, Yale, Norton Middle School and Norton High School) and that space pressures at JCS and the high school, combined with REEDS’ growth, made a short‑term plan necessary. REEDS’ plan is to occupy the new building for preschool and program administration and to operate two vans to transport DHH students to Norton schools for inclusive classes and activities.

REEDS’ board approved the purchase and the collaborative expects to make modest cosmetic upgrades. Candidates for relocation include preschool and some classroom spaces leaving JCS and the high‑school media area; Norton administration told the committee it will collaborate on scheduling to minimize additional travel and maximize inclusion in specials, athletics and extracurriculars.

Medeiros said REEDS proposes a contractual model under which REEDS would pay a share of Norton’s per‑pupil cost for students who access Norton classes: REEDS asked the district to consider a payment equal to 50% of Norton per‑pupil foundation budget for each REEDS student who continues to access Norton’s inclusive offerings; a planning figure discussed for FY26 was $229,908 overall, based on current counts and DESE foundation per‑pupil assumptions. Norton officials said final contract language and revenue/tuition accounting remain to be completed by the parties before the move.

Committee members praised the long‑standing relationship and emphasized the value of continuity: Norton has hosted REEDS classrooms for more than a decade, enabling DHH students to access Norton’s extracurricular and academic programs. Both REEDS and Norton urged continued coordination so high‑school students can minimize back‑and‑forth travel between sites and still be included in core classes and activities.

No final contract was signed at the meeting; REEDS’ board action allowed the collaborative to proceed with the property purchase and to continue negotiations with Norton on operational details and tuition arrangements.