Wallkill Valley High plans special education support

HAMBURG — In an effort to provide more support to Wallkill Valley High School's special education students, the Wallkill Valley Regional High School Board of Education approved the hiring six paraprofessionals at $15 per hour on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Interim Superintendent Bob Walker,a firm advocate of providing support in schools for children that need it, recommended the six hires.

"I am happy to be able to share with you that I have put together a plan to begin to address Special Education and classified students ... we have students that need some added support," Walker said.

Currently, Wallkill Valley has 150 classified special education students, many of which are placed in regular education classes that provide support teachers. In some cases, the number of students needing help far outweighs the number of paraprofessionals at the district, Walker said.

"We think this will be a road map to these children having greater success," he said.

Each paraprofessional will earn $15 per hour and must already hold a BA or BS degree, preferably in education. Although firm on having a degree, Walker would like those applicants to have a firm focus on different sciences, English, history, geometry and algebra, elementary business, and pottery. The students that are in need of assistance are in classes surrounding all those subjects.

The board, without any issue, agreed with Walker and passed the resolution.

The district is currently advertising for the six positions with a deadline of Jan. 5, 2015.