World Autism Day...

April 2 is designated around the world as World Autism Awareness Day as we kick off the month of April, which is also Autism Awareness Month. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. We know that there is not one form of autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges. While there is no official known cause for autism, we do know that a combination of genetic and environmental factors influences the development of autism, and autism is often accompanied by medical issues such as gastrointestinal disorders, seizures and sleep disturbances. Currently, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States, compared to 20 years ago when the number was closer to 1 in 150 children. Even as more and more people are classified as autistic, the disorder is still as perplexing today as it was when it was founded. Given the uniqueness of each individual person, there is no doubt that autism is something that all humans can learn from as it truly is the intent of public education. With autism, each and every child has their unique characteristics that are very evident, mostly due to the reduced verbal ability of autistic children. However, all children have their own uniqueness and learning preferences, they just are not as visible. The reality of education is that we should be learning from our students with autism and applying the teaching tools necessary to help them grow, to all children. Over my 25 years in education, I have met many many extraordinary educators and families who have and work with autistic students. There has not been a single instance where I did not see pure joy on the faces and hearts of the children and adults in these classes. Beyond that, the skills gained by adults who work with our autistic children are second to none. If the adult is open to growth and learning themselves, there is not a day that will go by that you won't learn something from an autistic child. What was once thought to be a disorder that doomed a child to be "different" and "nonverbal" forever, has been reclassified into a way of life and renewed understanding of children through parents and educators alike advocating for their children. The growth in autistic children in the last 20 years is nothing short of amazing, and it is due to teachers and families all over the world refusing to accept less than for these amazing individuals. If you are a family who is learning to work with an autistic child, or an educator/staff member desiring to know more about autism, I would recommend the website Autism Speaks as a wonderful resource. Autism is here to stay, and while we know little about the causes, it doesn't really matter if we all continue to learn and grow together with the people of autism in our lives. Thank you to all of our families, teachers, support staff, and STUDENTS with autism who have helped us learn and grow together. We are honored and fortunate to work with you every day and have you share your joy of life with us. 

Go Home Early Drill

Each year, schools in New York State are required to conduct what is called a "go home early" drill. In our region, schools attempt to have this event occur on the same day to minimize disruptions for our local BOCES. This year, the go-home early drill will be occurring on Thursday, April 6. For this drill, students will be dismissed from school 15 minutes earlier than regularly scheduled. Please make sure that necessary arrangements are made for students to arrive home from school earlier on that day.

Spring Break Reminder

As a reminder, schools will be closed for instruction from Friday, April 7 through Friday, April 14. Schools will resume classes on Monday, April 17. Enjoy your Spring Break!

Foundation Aid ThoughtExchange

As part of the State's budget requirements, school districts that received an increase in State Foundation Aid of more than $10 million or received a 10% increase in State Aid from the prior year must complete a plan for the expenditure of the funds, allow public input into the plan, and post the plan on their website while submitting to the State Education Department. In an effort to complete this task, the district is currently running a ThoughtExchange to gain feedback from the public on the topic. Our exchange will be open until Wednesday, April 9. To participate in the exchange, please visit our website here: https://tejoin.com/scroll/646341588.

Board of Education - Petitions Available

This year, there are four (4) open seats on the Board of Education. All four of these seats will be available on July 1, 2023. The term limit for three of the open seats is three years, expiring on June 30, 2023 and the fourth seat is to complete the remainder of a term, which is one year expiring on June 30, 2024. Completed petitions must include one hundred (100) qualified signatures and must be returned to the business office of the district at 409 Bell Road, and are due back before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Petitions are available for pick up at the business office of the Rome City School District. Any questions regarding open seats for the Board of Education can be directed to the business office or the Board of Education President, Mr. Joe Mellace.