Mar 25, 2019, Spearfish, SD, Black Hills Pioneer: Sturgis grad to pilot classroom https://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/sturgis-grad-to-pilot-classroom/article_80c96f04-7e6a-11e9-8771-2b6cc929e441.html STURGIS — Makenzie Skovlund likes a challenge. The recent Black Hills State University graduate from Sturgis will spend a portion of her summer preparing for the first-of-its-kind classroom for students with autism in the Meade School District. “Students with autism require a unique learning environment. They learn in different ways,” Skovlund said. “I’m super excited. It will certainly be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to taking this on.” Chrissy Peterson, director of the Meade School District Special Services Department, said in the last couple of years, the number of children with autism in the district has tripled. “They are the most unique wonderful people, but right now we have 34 identified, and not one of them is the same…. “We have a handful that have been served by Black Hills Special Services because we have not been equipped to serve them properly,” Peterson said. The new autism classroom, which will be located at Sturgis Elementary School, is a pilot program…. For students with autism, the more the instructor talks, the more agitated they can become….
