Say no to NSBLC

There is no way Allendale Public Schools have the resources to move learning challenged students to special classrooms.

This is an absolute embarrassment and combined with John Gibbs could be the beginning of the end of Ottawa Counties recent prosperity.

This move would be a disaster for the district and result in nothing more than increased legal costs as the “principals” of the new council likely run afoul of many federal laws if enacted as implied.

This fascist organization has no place in the country, let alone Allendale schools.

This is not least restrictive environment. We should be trying for more inclusion with special needs students, not seclusion.

2004 graduate

This is horrible to even consider

This organization has no place in Allendale or any Board of Education

Research supports that these students do better overall when kept with the traditional class and the UDL strategies used to help many with 504 plans and IEPs help every student. The issue is not these students being in the traditional class, but in many cases the lack of supports given to the teachers to provide on accommodations. The focus shouldn’t be on removing these students but in how we can provide better support - such as more planning time or help from coteachers.

I have become disgusted with this town I used to call home

We have an over abundance of racist, bigoted, and ableist groups representing a minority, holding institutions in West Michigan hostage. We need to protect these children from yet another hate group.

My parents advocated for me to be segregated at APS full-time for many years, and it was one of the worst things that ever happened to me. I used to have a full social life and a good relationship with all of my teachers, and suddenly I had no friends at all. I was completely locked out of taking most classes because they would not provide accommodations. AMS particularly treated their special needs students as second class citizens: they gave all of them work intended for lower grades, regardless of their academic ability, and systematically tolerated verbal and physical abuse against students. If a regular student talked back in that situation, they might be sent to the principal's office, but AMS considered it acceptable to lock special needs students in an empty "seclusion room" for up to an hour without bathroom breaks. Every single person in the classroom could hear me scream and cry and pound on the door, sore from being dragged by the shoulders, and no one did anything. I nearly attempted suicide multiple times, and I only truly began to put my life back together after going to a non-segregated college. These are not details I would ordinarily share in public, but it is absolutely necessary for everyone to know the reality of what NSBLC is proposing for your children. This cannot be the new normal.

let’s do this!

This is a terrible decision that will harm our schools and our children’s development.

It's dumb that we even need to sign a petition to try to stop this crap.

Allendale Township voter

Access to education and building an enlightened population is critical in today's world. Well educated children with an appreciation for diversity, viewpoints, and cultural competency are necessary for our children to be able to be successful, productive members of society. The NSBLC is regressive and antithetical to today's world. Injecting personal politics into the education of ALL children is likely to result in a less educated, less culturally competent set of graduates which will harm them in their future pursuits. This move will have long lasting impacts and will reflect poorly on the board and the community at large.

This change would be a complete negative for our students and their families. I can't believe this is even a discussion point.

Allendale resident

This is absolutely horrendous to do to a child. Kids can be really mean. This just leaves the door open to bullies and the like.