Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Faith Lutheran parents seek funds to expand special-needs program

Mark 10:14

Heather Cory

Shelly Rhodes laughs as she watches her son, Clayton, work on a computer program at Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High. Rhodes has played an active roll in raising money for a program that allows her son, who has Down syndrome, and other special needs students to learn in classes with regular students.

Mark 10:14

Sixth grader Clayton Rhodes, left, a special needs student at Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High. Rhodes, who has Down syndrome, is part of a program that puts special needs students in  regular classrooms. Launch slideshow »

Mark 10:14

"When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'"

Her voice choked with emotion, Shelley Rhodes described the warm reception her son receives from classmates when he arrives at Faith Lutheran Jr/Sr High School each morning.

"He's greeted by high schoolers, middle schoolers and teachers," she said. "For him to have that kind of interaction is just an amazing thing."

Rhodes' 12-year-old son Clayton has Down syndrome.

When Clayton reached middle school, Rhodes said she wanted to keep him in an inclusive learning environment, but she felt that the options presented by the Clark County School District were limited.

So she sought another solution from the private school attended by the rest of Clayton's family.

In 2007 Faith Lutheran began Mark 10:14, the private school's first program for special needs students.

Mark 10:14 integrates students with special needs into the regular classroom and gives them one-on-one time with a special education instructor.

The program's name refers to a Bible verse that school Director Kevin Dunning said talks about Christ not being discriminatory toward children.

Rhodes said the program has made a huge difference in the life of her son, who is now in seventh grade.

"Academically, he has matured far beyond what I ever would've expected," she said.

With the program having proved itself a huge success during its first year, Rhodes said she and the parents of the other three students in Mark 10:14 have begun fundraising efforts to offset costs and expand the program so that it may serve more families of children with special needs.

Money raised will help purchase technology and learning aides as well as help pay the salary of the program's faculty.

Dunning said the cost of running Mark 10:14, including staff salary and classroom equipment, is $90,000 to $100,000 annually, only half of which is covered by tuition.

Tuition is 50 percent higher than for traditional students.

Since the school has been absorbing the program cost not covered by tuition, Dunning said, any expansion of the program would rely heavily on the school's ability to find grants and donations to help cover expenses.

"The school has sort of maxed out its ability to subsidize the program," he said.

Rhodes said the group has so far raised $20,000 through the mailing of informational brochures with donation cards attached and that it hopes to raise more this January when it hosts a Super Bowl party fundraiser.

Special education teacher Lee Segalla said she is also actively seeking grants to help fund the program.

Sharing the program model with other schools is also a goal of the group, said Segalla and Rhodes.

Segalla said she finds that the success of Mark 10:14 has been very much dependent on the ratio of students to educators.

Currently she and an aide provide altered lessons and additional help outside of regular class time to four students, two who have Down syndrome and two who have autism.

When they're not in the Mark 10:14 room, the students participate in discussions and classroom activities in the regular science, English and electives classrooms alongside their peers.

Segalla said it's not just the special needs students who benefit from the interactions.

By helping the Mark 10:14 students with projects, assisting them in getting ready to participate in sports and by spending time with them at lunch, she said the traditional students are learning to step outside themselves and become more aware of other people's needs.

Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected].

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