Nov. 27, 2023
The Wentzville School District (WSD) Board of Education approved issuing a bid document for the REACH Adaptive Learning Center and Early Childhood Center on Nov. 16, 2023. This is the next step towards developing a new building on the North Point Campus.
REACH, which currently operates in a rental property within a strip mall in O’Fallon, provides adaptive education placement and therapy to students with special needs from kindergarten to 12th grade. The building is operating at maximum capacity, and its lease is set to expire in February of 2026.
The REACH facility was not constructed as an educational facility, and administrators have significant concerns. Some of these concerns include ADA compliance, location safety, segmented spaces, lack of outdoor space, and no kitchen.
The District’s early childhood program is also in need of additional space.
“WSD is currently the only district in the county that does not have a full day, full week, or a fully comprehensive, tuition-paying, early childhood program to serve typically performing students,” said Dr. Danielle Tormala, WSD superintendent.
The District’s only early childhood facility, Barfield Early Childhood Special Education Center, holds approximately 400 students in half-day programs. This year alone, there are 128 students on the waitlist.
Research shows reaching kids at an early age has strong evidence of future academic success and even points to increased MAP performance.
Not only does early childhood education have a direct academic impact, but it has a significant and sustaining economic and societal impact as well. One dollar invested in early childhood education yields a $16 return according to James Heckman, a Nobel prize-winning economist.
“Both services (REACH and Early Childhood) are critically in need of our advocacy by passing the motion to go out for bid,” said Katie Lyczak, Board of Education vice president. “REACH is an adaptive learning center, and the program needs a facility that allows it to be just that. A strip mall is not adaptive. The (current) playground is not a playground by any means … It is (our job) to provide a safe space, an exceptional space for our exceptional students, and this motion has my full support.”
After reviewing the District’s comprehensive facilities master plan, recent demographic study, and re-convened construction committee recommendation, the Board voted to move forward with the project.
As approved by the Board of Education, the District will seek base bids for the development of REACH Adaptive Learning Center. If the bids are favorable, the District will also be accepting alternate bids to build an Early Childhood Center that will be connected to REACH.
