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Harrisonburg outlines new resource classrooms and teacher training for students with complex needs
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Summary
Director Tony Walker told the board the division will create smaller resource classroom spaces, strengthen co‑teaching and professional development, and work with JMU on a grant to credential special‑education teachers to better keep students in‑district.
HARRISONBURG, Va. — The Harrisonburg City School Board received a plan April 7 to expand resources for students with complex special‑education needs, including new smaller instructional spaces, more professional development for staff and a partnership with James Madison University to build local teacher capacity.
Tony Walker, the district’s director of special education, said the additional resource classrooms will provide smaller, slower‑paced environments for students who struggle in larger general‑education settings. Placement into those rooms will be determined by IEP teams using data, Walker said, and students will exit only when progress indicates they are ready to return to general education.
"We are looking to maintain our students within the school division and to address them where they are," Walker said, outlining plans for data‑based placements, expanded co‑teaching models and monthly monitoring of IEP progress reports.
Walker also described training the district will provide for administrators, case managers and teachers on specially designed instruction, IEP procedures and disability awareness. The division plans to use a JMU grant to support credentialing that could grow the local pool of special‑education teachers.
Board members asked how the division will attract qualified teachers given statewide shortages. Dr. Richards said the proposed budget includes incentives and noted the district’s plan to "grow our own" by supporting instructional assistants and partnering with higher‑education institutions.
The board did not take final action; staff said many details — including exact numbers of classrooms and budget implications — remain to be worked out as part of the budget process.
