Niles, OH: "Significant changes" to special needs preschool program

Mar 31, 2026, Fairhaven School redirects preschool towards special needs | Niles News | wfmj.com

Fairhaven School in Niles is making significant changes to its preschool program, narrowing its focus to better serve students with specialized needs.

Beginning this fall, the program prioritize the needs of special needs students, with a “balanced and inclusive structure” of approximately six students with disabilities and four who are considered “typically developing.”

Superintendent Edward Stark says the shift comes in response to updated state requirements that no longer allow the district to operate its traditional blended classrooms.

“We’ve historically run a fully integrated preschool classroom,” Stark explained. “But with changes to state requirements, we’re no longer able to do that.”