When Warsaw Community Schools announced the remodel and addition of their elementary schools, during the 2008-09 school year it was decided that the Jefferson Elementary special needs classroom would transfer to Eisenhower Elementary while the building was under construction.
The move was needed to assure the children would be housed in an environment more suited for their needs without construction noise and distractions.
The staff and students of Eisenhower Elementary, led by then-principal Melissa Rees, was introduced in January 2009. Eisenhower welcomed the entire class and staff.
The special needs students were selected by Einsehower teachers to be placed into classrooms with the general education students and join them in everyday studies and activities while maintaining their own classroom lead by Michelle Rogers and Karis Miller. The entire staffed classroom includes teachers Rogers and Miller, along with five instructional assistants.
With the remodel and new construction almost complete, the Jefferson Elementary special needs class will return to all-new facilities in the fall. The new classroom that awaits them is considered state-of-the-art for special education. There will be two classrooms adapted to be handicapped accessible, along with bathrooms and showers, a full kitchen also handicapped accessible, indirect fluorescent lighting along with recessed can lights on dimmers which can aid kids with autism, a new playground with equipment that can be jointly used by disabled and able-bodied kids and plans for a sensory garden.Jefferson Elementary wanted to show how much they appreciated the warm welcome and gracious hospitality that Eisenhower gave for the past 1-1/2 years and presented the entire school with a "memory" tree. The special needs students helped to plant the tree to thank the students and teachers for making lasting memories of the time spent there. A lawn plaque also will be placed beside the tree to commemorate the gift to the school.
