Alexandria must find teachers for special ed students

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Alexandria (Map, News) - Alexandria schools administrators are trying to decide where to teach their most disabled students after Fairfax County schools officials said they can no longer accept city students.

The city’s severely handicapped students for years attended special education centers in Fairfax County or Saint Coletta’s, a private school in the District. But in the spring, Fairfax administrators said they couldn't handle any more Alexandria students, said Michael Romanelli, director of Alexandria's special education programs.

“More [Fairfax] students require services,” Fairfax County Public Schools spokesman Paul Regnier said.

About 15 of the 25 severely handicapped students attend the Key Center in Springfield, Romanelli said. Fairfax administrators have agreed to keep them until Alexandria can make other arrangements, Romanelli said.

Another five students who require medical care attend St. Coletta’s.

Romanelli started a class in the fall for five new severely handicapped elementary students at Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics. With a small district — Alexandria has 10,275 students — it’s hard to get enough students of similar ages for a class, he said.

One option Superintendent Rebecca Perry suggested recently is closing Jefferson-Houston and turning it into a special education center.

A cost comparison on starting classes versus sending the students elsewhere hasn’t been done, said John Porter, assistant superintendent for administration.

With one or two severely handicapped students, it is more economical to send them elsewhere, Porter said. However, more city students need special education classes, and Romanelli said the district may have reached a break-even point on educating severely handicapped students in Alexandria.

The city pays Fairfax about $1.5 million annually for tuition, Porter said. Virginia pays for students attending St. Coletta’s. Alexandria covers the students' transportation to both locations, costing about $211,000 annually, Porter said.

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