Contact: Michael Mehalik
(740) 264-7176
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School of Bright Promise Adds Second Preschool Unit
STEUBENVILLE-In an effort to better meet the needs of local school districts, the Jefferson County Board of
Developmental Disabilities has added a second preschool unit for children with special needs.
Rachel Bodo, principal of the School of Bright Promise, said the new unit started Jan. 4 and includes seven students
between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. Bodo said the class was established to assist the school districts the JCBDD
serves and the two units presently have a total of 14 children.
The JCBDD hired teacher Jenna Joyce to educate the young charges while current full- and part-time staff members
were reassigned as aides. Bodo said space was made for the unit by relocating the sensory room to another section of
the building.
“It is a classroom for students with autism,” Bodo said. “There was a need by the local school districts, so we reopened a closed multidisciplinary preschool as an autism preschool. It was discussed in October and we relocated our
old sensory room, and then we got a list of students from the school districts. The districts were all eligible to send
information if they had a need and they were added to our bus routes.”
The multidisciplinary room had closed at the end of the 2013 school year, leaving only one autistic preschool until
now. A parent orientation was held at the end of December and so far things have been operating smoothly.
“We had a good first week,” said Joyce, adding that the children were settling in to their new surroundings. “They
have been learning about colors, sharing, good listening and all the basics.”
“If we need to grow in other areas, then we’ll wait and see what the needs are,” Bodo noted. “This is all to help the
kids.”
JCBDD Superintendent Michael Mehalik said there appeared to be a growing necessity to provide assistance to
young children throughout the area the board serves, including Buckeye Local, Edison Local, Indian Creek Local,
Steubenville City, Toronto City Schools.
“We did it at the request of the five school districts in Jefferson County. It was something that was identified as a
real need,” said Mehalik. “It’s an effort on our part to meet the needs of the school districts in the Jefferson County
community.”
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(Photo Cutline: Youngsters are settling in at the new autistic preschool unit at the School of Bright Promise.
Youth ages 3 to 5 are learning the basics while also forming friendships. Among those enjoying playtime are
Garrett Brewer in the front with James Mowry, Malachi Huffman, and Gunnar Abbott in back.)