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Children's Home Society opens Lincoln Building program for K–3 students; 11 enrolled so far
Summary
Children's Home Society (CHS) told the board it has opened an alternative K–3 classroom at the Lincoln Building serving children who need extra social, emotional and academic supports. CHS reported 11 students enrolled and staffing in place, and said enrollment should grow toward the program's 15–24 student target.
Children's Home Society (CHS) presented an update to the Rapid City Area School District board on a newly launched school program at the Lincoln Building intended to serve K–3 students who need specialized supports.
Mike Grower, director of school programming for CHS, told the board the program began in March with four students and by April 7 had 11 students enrolled. CHS said it expects to enroll additional students and is targeting about 15 students by the end of the coming week, with an eventual capacity goal of up to 24 in this initial phase.
Grower described the program as an alternative classroom environment with a 1-to-4 staff-to-student ratio, daily collaboration with district staff, and therapeutic services provided by CHS. “Each student at the Lincoln Building has been partnered with a therapist from CHS's outpatient therapy clinic,” he said, adding that CHS has hired two classroom teachers and three paraprofessional staff and shares specialty staff (art, music/therapy, physical education, behavior specialists) with its Black Hills campus.
Board members asked about referral and transition processes. Grower said referrals have been driven by elementary principals and family relationships, and that the program will use structured debriefs and 30-day and quarterly stakeholder meetings to plan transitions back to district schools when appropriate. He said time in the program varies case-by-case; based on CHS experience elsewhere, “it's approximately 18 months of time” for many students but depends on age and family engagement.
Ending: Board members expressed support for the collaborative program and thanked CHS staff and district employees involved in the early rollout. CHS said it will return with further updates as enrollment and services expand.
