For Immediate Release
September 23, 2024
Last spring, the Marysville School District began implementing a process to ensure the safety of students with disabilities enrolled in the district’s 18 - 21-year-old program while accessing swimming, were put in place, including the ability to earn PE or elective credits. The field trips for swimming are put on hold until the process is fully implemented.
Msvl. WA - The Marysville School District requires adequate supervision for all field trips, including community-based instructional (CBI) field trips. CBI helps students with special needs in the programs develop skills in real-world settings and is often used for job training and placement. CBI includes trips to local businesses and restaurants such as grocery stores, bookstores, and fitness facilities.
Students enrolled in the 18 - 21-year-old program were taking community-based Instructional field trips to swim, but safety concerns surfaced.
In consultation with special education leadership and legal counsel, Marysville School District put a hold on the swimming pool trips until adequate supervision was established. Steps to ensure adequate supervision are in process. It is notable that currently, no other students in the Marysville School District are allowed to participate in a swim field trip. Principals were reminded that community-based swim trips would continue to be on hold until adequate supervision could be established.
The schools have been asked to collaborate to schedule a dedicated course/class for swimming that would be teacher-led and fully supervised for students enrolled in the 18 - 21-year-old programs. This model will provide the opportunity for students to earn credits for PE, meet Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals, and participate in the class in a controlled environment. In addition to the supervision concerns, community-based swim trips do not meet these requirements.
The recommendation did not state that access to the pool for students with disabilities should be removed but rather that a shift from CBI to a structured course/class should be made to ensure student safety and adequate supervision and provide an opportunity to earn missing elective credits.
The next steps include a clear and structured path to providing a program to restore the student's access to swimming opportunities. The Marysville School District continues to provide access and opportunities for all students, including those with disabilities.
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