Schools to lose behavioral aides

Because of state budget cuts beyond the local school systems’ control, special education students are losing a valuable asset — and behavioral aides are losing their jobs.

The General Assembly funds a state agency called the Comprehensive Services Act, stemming from a 1993 law that pools funds to purchase services for high-risk youth, including the use of behavioral aides in public schools.

Locally, the Community Policy and Management Team — a joint board between Danville and Pittsylvania County — administers those funds. About a month ago, the city and county school systems learned they would not have the help of behavioral aides during the 2010-11 school year.

Carlita Britten, who was recently laid off from Teammates Youth and Family Services in Danville, was an aide for a second-grader at Gretna Elementary School who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of Autism. Britten worked directly with her student in a one-on-one setting, helping him transition from one class to another.

“We were working on his social skills,” Britten said, “trying to get him to be able to be in a traditional class, getting used to other kids. It’s a slow process. He’s smart enough to be in a traditional class, but he’s not used to it … We’re there so the child can stay in school and learn the things the other students do without being a distraction.”

The child’s mother, Cheryl Baker, said not having an aide for her son will be a major setback for his social development. She received a phone call Wednesday from the school alerting her to the change, but she already knew.

“It’s gonna affect the classroom dynamic,” Baker said. “The teacher and the limited aide who will be in the room will have to deal with these children. It will cut back on teaching time and it will cut back on what these kids learn.”

Jeff Early, the county assistant superintendent for support services and special education, said there were likely between two and four of these behavioral aides working in each school in the county. Andy Thacker, director of exceptional children for Danville Public Schools, said about 33 aides worked in city schools.

Each of these aides worked directly with a single student, but it is unclear exactly how many local employees have been laid off as a result of this cut in state funding.

Early said the county schools would have to look at how to shift existing employees to serve those students and provide teachers with the support they need.

“Those positions were really services that were above a free and appropriate education,” Early said. “Those were students who needed a little extra support for their behavioral needs. We will work with those kids in perhaps some creative ways with our existing staff, but we will continue to provide a free and appropriate education for all of our students.”

Thacker said each district works with several vendors, such as Teammates Youth and Family Services, to work with those individual students. He said the city schools would be looking into hiring part time employees to help.

“We’re looking at reallocating our resources to make sure we have the supports available for those kids, teachers and the classroom,” Thacker said.

Representatives for the local arm of the Comprehensive Services Act could not be reached for comment.