Dupage Policy Journal

The Wheaton/Warrenville Community Unit School District 200 Board of Education visited the Jefferson Early Education Center and got a peek at what the students have been doing there recently.

The board held their Oct. 12 meeting at the Jefferson center in the district. The Jefferson school is centered on children aged 3 through kindergarten age and is dedicated to early intervention for any learning disabilities or problems they may have. Approximately two-thirds of the students at Jefferson have some sort of learning or developmental disability, which they receive support for until they are ready for regular kindergarten.

Dr. Mary Davis, the principal of Jefferson, greeted and thanked the board of education for coming to the building. She also thanked them for the new building, which was built in 2020 and made specifically for the smallest and youngest students. She said they can really tell that their facility was designed to help them do their job. She also spoke briefly about Elliott, a young student they lost, who was only able to attend for a little while before he passed away. Davis asked that everyone keep Elliott's family in their hearts.

The principal also presented the board with art projects made by the students using their handprints to create bouquets for every board member.

"Number one, huge thank you to the Jefferson staff and certainly Jefferson students for the kind welcome this evening," district superintendent Jeff Schuler said. "I do want to add to what Dr. Davis said, which is any time that we lose a student, that's a loss to the entire school district and community. And that is sad, no matter the age of this student. But certainly in this case, to lose such a young student was certainly a loss to the school district. And so I want to add my my condolences and my thoughts that we keep Jefferson certainly, and in our thoughts and prayers. I had an opportunity just a little over a week ago to spend half a day here at at Jefferson. And and again, I think what what Dr. Davis mentioned tonight, I saw firsthand in the work that's taking place."