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The Review
page 4
January 13, 2015 ROCK FALLS
Nailed it!
Alternative school students learn to ply trades in class BY JERMAINE PIGEE
ROCK FALLS – The smell of sawdust and the sound of nails being drilled into wooden studs filled the air Thursday at Thome Elementary School. Since the beginning of the school year, eight male students at the school have participated in a shop class. “This class teaches the kids life skills,” said Rob Berry, who teaches the class. “You never know when you have to cut a board or put in a screw or fix a light switch.” Berry also said teaching students how to use dif-
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ferent tools is a valuable life skill. To help in launching the class, the Bi-County Special Education Cooperative gave the alternative school a $490 mini grant. The cooperative provides educational services for children with a wide range of disabilities, from autism to attention deficit disorder to physical disabilities. Its budget comes from state and federal money. “Any teacher in BiCounty can write a mini grant up to $500 for whatever activity they want in the classroom that regular funding won’t pay for,” Berry said. “We used
the money to pay for tools and toolboxes.” Thome School enrolls students with behavior problems and emotional disabilities. Fifty elementary, middle and high school students are enrolled. The grant money did not come until October, but Berry wanted to start the shop class before that. So, he put up some of his own money until the grant was available. “It was only a couple hundred dollars, but it Photo by Philip Marruffo was worth it, and the kids Rob Berry of Thome Elementary School in Rock Falls works with his students in really enjoyed it,” Berry the shop class he created. Berry used a grant from the Bi-County Special Educasaid. “Teaching this class tion Cooperative to purchase tools and supplies for the shop class. But before is very important to me.” the grant, he put up his own money for materials. NAILED CONTINUED ON 2
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