Troy, MO: District adding $150-$180K facility for 18-21yo. students with special needs
Troy, MO
When it came time for the Lincoln County R-3 school district to build a facility to house an innovative program for special needs students, they embraced an innovative approach.
Those school officials officially started construction on the new Adult Community Education Support (ACES) facility with a foundation ceremony May 1 at the site’s location on Buchanan Street in Troy.
The ACES program is designed to support 18-21 year-old special education students as they build skills for independent living beyond the classroom.
During the foundation ceremony, Dr. Kelley Groeber, Executive Director of Student Services, explained the origin of the program.
“The ACES program was born from the question, ‘What happens when the bus stops coming for our students with special education services, ages 18 to 21?’” she said.
Groeber added the transition from the structured environment of PreK-12 to the complexities of adulthood can be daunting for families with young adults with significant developmental needs.
The ACES program is designed to bridge that gap. . . .
And while the ACES program itself will be new to the district and unique to the area, the building housing it will be equally unusual as students will construct.
The Troy Buchanan High School Construction Trades program is taking the lead on the build, turning the site into a living classroom where they are gaining professional-grade experience while literally building a foundation for their peers.
TBHS Interior Design students will also partner on the project as a part of their course next fall.
The project is supervised by instructors within the school’s Construction Trades department, who essentially serve as the general contractors.
Students and teachers have partnered with local businesses and service providers to construct a new residential home each of the last eight years. A May 15 Open House is scheduled for their most recent project, located at 51 Millpoint Ct. in Moscow Mills.
With most of the labor provided, construction costs on the new facility are estimated at $150-$180K.
The building is expected to be completed during the 2026-2027 school year.
Program Details
According to information provided by the school, the program will be able to work with about six to ten students each semester and 20 students total during two summer sessions.
Calendar and hours for the program will mirror the district’s and staffing will include one teacher and two paraprofessionals, paid for through a combination of local and federal funds.
As for curriculum, that is being described as a “work in progress” as school officials note this program is a first-of-its kind in the area.
Curriculum though will include four main components: self-care, recreation/community involvement, daily living, and career/hobby development.
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