BVSD decided without any input from the community, parents or parents of ICAN students to remove the incredibly successful special needs program out of Mesa Elementary in Boulder to a location in Erie.  The program has existed in that location for over a decade and the years of integration have created an unprecedented environment of love and acceptance of all types of children within the school. It is truly an integral part of their environment and culture.

The children with emotional differences that are part of the ICAN program have already suffered from being moved previously out of their neighborhood schools by the district.  Being moved once from your friends, family and village is enough to ask of any grade school child, but to do it yet again will cause this at risk population who needs stability the most undue stress and emotional setbacks. They've finally found a home at this wonderful and welcoming school. How can it explained that they are no longer welcome and have to leave their friends and teachers?

The district wants to move these children to a school being built at the eastern edge of the county in Erie, 30 minutes away from Mesa, requiring the district to bus the ICAN children far from their homes. The 40 million dollar school is being built from a bond measure to accommodate growth in the eastern part of the county and was not intended to close any schools or programs.

Children with disabilities are a protected class under the IDEA laws and are supposed to have their needs met in a "least restrictive environment". Busing them so far away and removing them from a fabulous working program does not meet "least restrictive guidelines".

We hope you will sign this petition to keep the county from discriminating against these children and providing them the best possible outcome for the remainder of their fragile grade school years. Thank you!