Nueva Zelanda: Tasman Mayor calls on Hekia Parata to visit Salisbury School before closure

Oceanía/Nueva Zelanda/Julio de 2016/ Stuff

RESUMEN: El Alcalde de Tasman, Richard Kempthorne, dijo que la Ministra de Educación, Hekia Parata, debe escuchar «la solución Salisbury» antes de cerrar la escuela especializada. Kempthorne pidió a Parata visitar la escuela en Richmond, cerca de Nelson, después de que el ministro anunció una propuesta el mes pasado para discutir el cierre de la escuela a principios del año próximo. Kempthorne dijo: Salisbury tenía el personal y los recursos para desarrollar habilidades para la vida de los estudiantes y ayudar a hacer la transición a la educación general. Esa imagen, llamada «La solución Salisbury» pide al Ministerio de Educación para financiar un «enfoque mejorado» en 30 estudiantes con autismo y discapacidad intelectual en lugar de todos los estudiantes con necesidades especiales.

Autor: Adele Redmon
Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne has asked Minister for Education Hekia Parata to visit Salisbury School so it can share its vision for the future. Parata has proposed the specialist school’s closure within a year.

Tasman Mayor Richard Kempthorne says Education Minister Hekia Parata should listen to «the Salisbury Solution» before closing the specialist school.
Kempthorne called on Parata to visit school in Richmond, near Nelson, after the minister announced a proposal last month to discuss closing the school early next year.
Parata’s office said the minister would happily visit Salisbury if a convenient time could be arranged.
Kempthorne said Salisbury had the staff and resources to develop its students’ life skills and help them transition to mainstream education.
Since the spectre of closure appeared two years ago, Salisbury School has built a very comprehensive offering in providing support for students with severe intellectual disabilities and those at the severe end of the autistic spectrum.
«It’s got a clear picture of what’s to be provided and the value of that for disadvantaged students.»
That picture, called «The Salisbury Solution» asks the Ministry of Education to fund an «enhanced focus» on 30 autistic and intellectually disabled students rather than all special needs students.
This would make Salisbury the first residential education facility solely targeted at such students in New Zealand.
Kempthorne said that most schools «aren’t resourced to give sufficient support to young people with high needs» under the government’s Intensive Wraparound Service (IWS).
«Investment at this stage in the students’ lives will certainly be paid back many times over in the future, financially, socially and morally.»
Salisbury’s board of trustees chairperson John Kane had a similar view.
«Young people with autism and complex intellectual disabilities are falling through the special education holes as they are not even getting into the IWS.
«The Salisbury proposal offers a solution based on international literature and best practice, utilising Salisbury’s current facilities and expertise, and requiring no further funding than was granted in the 2015 school year.»
Kane welcomed a visit from Parata and hoped to meet her before the current consultation period ended in August.
Fuente: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/81761607/tasman-mayor-calls-on-hekia-parata-to-visit-salisbury-school-before-closure