[nfb-talk] Proposal to Close Moore Head School for The Blind:

[Kenneth Chrane]

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

Session 2009

DRAFT SPECIAL PROVISION 2009-DHHS-H29

Department of Health and Human Services

Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services

Requested by: Representative

OFFICE OF EDUCATION SERVICES/FUNDS TRANSFER AND CONSOLIDATION OFSCHOOLS.

SECTION 10.57B.(a) There is transferred from the Office of Education 
Services Trust Fund, Budget Code 66424, the sum of one hundred seventy-five 
thousand three hundred twenty-one dollars ($175,321) to the Office of 
Education Services General Fund, Budget Code 14424. These funds shall be 
used to support the operations of the North Carolina School for the Deaf at 
Morganton, Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf at Wilson, and 
Governor Morehead School for the Blind. Donations and bequests to these 
schools shall be used in accordance with their designated purpose.

SECTION 10.57B.(b) The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of 
Education Services (OES) shall not enroll new students at the Governor 
Morehead School for the Blind during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school 
years. During these years, the Office of Education Services shall allow the 
census to decline and prepare to close the Governor Morehead School for the 
Blind.

SECTION 10.57B.(c) OES shall develop a plan for the consolidation of the 
Governor Morehead School for the Blind (GMS) at the existing campuses of the 
North Carolina School for the Deaf at Morganton (NCSD) and the Eastern North 
Carolina School for the Deaf at Wilson (ENCSD). Within the GMs consolidation 
plan, OES shall accomplish all of the following:

(1) Determine the number of current students enrolled at GMS that would 
require continued residential instruction, and the number of students that 
could be more appropriately served within their area local education

agencies (LEAs).

(2) Require GMS school staff to work in conjunction with LEAs and others to 
revise individualized educational plans for each student, as needed, and 
prepare a transition plan for every student.

(3) Collaborate with the Department of Public Instruction and affected LEAs 
to identify additional LEA resource requirements to appropriately educate 
transitioning GMS students.

(4) Prepare a budget for the consolidated residential schools for students 
who are deaf, blind, or deaf-blind, which itemizes instructional, 
residential, and other personnel requirements, operating requirements, and 
physical

improvements to the campuses.

(5) Provide a specific timeline for the closure and transitioning of 
students currently enrolled at GMS.

(6) Identify alternative instructional and operational models to improve the 
quality of instruction at the consolidated residential schools, and to 
improve the capacities of LEAs to educate students who are deaf, blind, or 
deaf-blind.



Not later than May 1, 2010, OES shall report on each of the required 
components of the consolidation plan set forth in subdivisions (1) through 
(6) of this subsection to the House of Representatives Appropriations 
Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate Appropriations 
Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal Research Division.