Therapeutic school wants to open in Algonquin

A new private, therapeutic day school for elementary through high school students with special needs is planning to come to Algonquin.

The School of Expressive Arts and Learning (SEAL), which has locations in Lombard and Romeoville, is expected to obtain approval for a special use permit for a school at 2654 Corporate Parkway in Algonquin after the village’s committee of the whole gave it a thumbs-up this week.

Algonquin senior planner Katie Parkhurst said village staff visited the school’s Lombard site at the end of July. SEAL serves students with learning disabilities, mental impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury and more, Parkhurst said.

There would be no outside playground, and students would be bussed to and from the school, she said. “It’s a very controlled situation. Traffic flow would not be an issue like at some of our elementary schools.”

SEAL schools are open to any student, from any location, whose parents and school district jointly decide that is the most appropriate placement for the student, said Karen Larson, SEAL’s director of student services.

Students are taught the district’s full academic curriculum, in addition to getting art, music and recreation therapy, Larson said. Students have Individualized Education Programs and are provided all services required, such as occupational therapy or speech and language therapy, she said.

“Our goal is to work in partnership with the school district. Our goal is the same as theirs, to mainstream the kids in public schools,” Larson said. Representatives for Community Unit District 300 and Huntley Area District 158 did not return calls seeking comment.Each student#146;s school district pays SEAL for its services on the basis of rates set by the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board, and the Illinois State Board of Education then reimburses the district for the payments, Larson said. ISBE officials could not be reached for confirmation on the payment arrangement.If the special use permit is granted at the Sept. 6 village board meeting, school officials plan to move into the Algonquin space by early October, or possibly late September. The school would begin to enroll students immediately, starting with about 10 student and possibly growing to up to 40 in the next three years, Larson said. The Lombard location serves a couple of students from McHenry County, who would likely move to the closer school in Algonquin, she said.At Tuesday#146;s meeting, trustees expressed their approval for the venture. #147;Thank you for bringing this here,#148; Trustee Debby Sosine said. #147;It#146;s really wonderful what you do.#148;