Autism class to remain in place at Johnson Elementary School

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) – On Friday, the Limestone County School administration met with parents of students who attended special education classes at Johnson Elementary School.

Last week, the school board decided to rezone the autism wing, which would effectively close the class.

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Parents sought any kind of explanation as to why their children on the autism spectrum would no longer be able to attend classes at Johnson Elementary. After pleading with the district and voicing their concerns to News 19, the coordinators have decided to keep the class in place. 

“Once we did the story and word just blew up, they wanted us to know that that’s not the case and they are not going to take the class away,” parent Alicia Loughary, whose 5-year-old son attends the school, said.

Loughary and another parent, Heather Bridges, led the fight to keep the class in place and said that the classes at Johnson have made a difference in the students’ education.

Students with more intensive needs in both cognitive and physical having to shift to a new learning environment., the parents explained, can be an added burden on the student.

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Loughary is thankful for the education and services that her son will continue to receive from the staff at Johnson Elementary.

“I don’t think there’s any better than the staff there,” Loughary said. “I’ve seen the growth that has come whether it’s the kid’s education or their social skills. Just the growth is amazing and that is what we were fighting for was to keep our children together.”

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