To provide a comprehensive quality instructional, vocational and residential program coordinated with a system of support services assuring and enabling deaf and hard of hearing students of Mississippi an equal and accessible opportunity to achieve their maximum potentials to become successful independent and productive citizens.
MSD's program provides a bilingual/multicultural environment whereby the student's social, physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development can be fostered.
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Bailey Hall
Constructed to house the administration
offices, the cafeteria and academic programs for Level III (grade 6), Level
IV (grades 7, 8, 9), Level V (grades 10, 11, 12) and Level 6 (ages 20,
21). Robert's Gymnasium is connected to this two story complex. Other programs
in this building include the Vocational Business and Office Practices skill
area, the Home Economic Training area, the Library and Media areas.
Primary Building
# 12
Constructed to accommodate the academic
programs of K-6, the Administrative Offices, Speech Department, Audiologist
and Ski*Hi program with Media and Library areas.
Dorm A
Constructed to house young female students,
ages five to twelve. Fully equipped facility with living quarters and activity
area.
Dorm B
Same as above except houses young male
students, ages three through six and older female students, ages ten through
twelve in separate wings.
Dorm C
Same as Dorm A & B except houses
young male students, ages seven through ten and ages ten through twelve
are in separate wings.
Saunders Hall
The home for older girls, ages thirteen
through twenty-one. Two-story complex, fully equipped with living quarters
and activity areas.
Dobyns Hall
The home for older boys, ages thirteen
through twenty-one. Two-story complex, fully equipped with living quarters
and activity areas.
Recreation
Buildings
Buildings modified from original construction
to accommodate recreation program at MSD. This area is equipped with snack
bar, sound system and table games. Activity areas offer viewing of television
programs and dance area. The warehouse and shipping/receiving area are
also located in this structure
Superintendent's
Residence with Laundry and Garage
Built to accommodate the Superintendent
and his/her family while presiding over the operation of the Mississippi
School for the Deaf.
Cabaniss Hall,
Burt Hall and other on-site structures
Reported as Combined Services.
Vocational
Buildinigs/V.R. Annex
The present Vocational Building V.R.
Annex is a two story building that contains areas for offices and instructional
space for the Vocational trade areas of Graphic Arts and Vocational Buildings
and Grounds Maintenance/Horticulture. Also, this complex is the Vocational
Curriculum Coordinator's office and the Vocational Evaluation Unit. Scheduled
to be phased out with the completion of the new Vocational Complex in January,
1998.
Vocational
Food Service Area
A portable building that houses the
Vocational Food Service field area. Originally the Recreation Center. Scheduled
to be phased out with the completion of the new Vocational Complex in January,
1998.
Students from birth to twenty-one have the opportunity to receive services offered by the Mississippi School for the Deaf (MSD).
Students from birth through three years of age are provided services in their homes by the SKI*HI program. There are 39 students in this program.
Students from four through five years of age are provided services by the Pre-School Kindergarten Program. This program consists of four Level 1 sections. There are 20 students in this program, 7 are day students and 13 are residential students.
Students from six through thirteen years of age are provided services by the Elementary School Program. This program consists of two levels (nine classes). There are 54 students in this program. The elementary school provides services to 6 day students and 48 residential students. Placement of students within the academic program depends on communication and academic ability, not age. Therefore the transition ages within the academic and residence programs are not the same for all students.
Students from thirteen through twenty-one are provided services by the Junior High School and High School Programs. These Programs consist of grades seven (Level IV) through twelve (Level VI) and provide services for 36 junior high and 29 senior high students.
There are 9 day students and 32 dormitory students in the High School. These students are able to pursue academic (diploma and certificate) and vocational programs. Vocational students receive diploma in the chosen area upon completion of requirements. Academic students receive a diploma upon completion of Carnegie Units. Certificate students receive an IEP Certificate of Completion. MSD educational staff are certified staff. Course offerings follow State Department of Education guidelines. The presentation level of subject matter is based on the students Individual Educational Program (I.E.P.) level of performance. Vocational programs are available to students in grades ten (Level V and VI), eleven (Level V and VI), and twelve (Level V and VI), and consist of Graphic Arts, Food Services, Maintenance/Horticulture, Auto Body, and Business and Office Practices. There are 26 students in the vocational program. MSD also offers a Transitional Program. This program is funded partly with Vocational Rehabilitation monies. Drivers Education is provided at the high school level.
A State testing program is followed, coordinated by the Academic Guidance Counselor, which provides information concerning student's academic ability in comparison with hearing impaired and non hearing impaired students.
Extracurricular activities are provided to give students the opportunity to participate in various clubs and student organizations.
The Athletic Program is based on the requirement of the Mississippi High School Activities Association. Football, basketball, track, cheerleading and volleyball are offered to the high school students. Junior High and Pee Wee training programs for basketball, football and cheerleading are also offered.
The Residence Program provides development of study skills, sets study hours, development of social skills, and development of communication skills (most students come from homes where family members have little or no formal signing skills). A student Work Experience Program is also provided which gives students the opportunity to work on campus. The student receives compensation for the work and gets a better insight into the world of work.
The Residence and Academic Programs use the Support Services Program. This program provides assessment, speech, audiology, social welfare, counseling services, interpreting and other related services.
Professional Development Programs are
administered according to the MDE guidelines. These programs provide training
in the areas of curriculum development, student/classroom management and
other areas as indicated by a staff needs assessment.
Related services such as transportation,
medical, maintenance, and food service are provided by Combined Services.
Financial operations are under the direction of MDE.
Innovative Programs are being implemented with special emphasis placed on communication, reading and language arts. Deaf individuals must be able to read due to the fact that 90% of deaf outside a deaf environment receive information through reading. MSD is providing new technology and resources such as software programs developed with the use of a laser disc that signs vocabulary words and literary stories.
Every academic classroom has an Apple computer system which serves as a resource tool for the teacher. A computer lab has been set up in the Library/Media Center for the use of classroom reinforcement for the students. MSD has also implemented a new reading program which will increase the reading level of students. This program features four components which aids the students' total language development. This program includes American Sign Language Development, Adapted Dolch List, M.S.S. Reading Series with a "Blocking Process", and the North Hampton Charts (Condensed). This program started as a pilot study at MSD with the results being impressive. Students in the pilot study improved their reading levels by 2 or 3 grade levels in a twelve week period.
MSD is currently revising our school curriculum in the area of reading and language arts with the assistance of MDE.
1. The Academic Program
will be expanded. These expansions will occur through, but not limited
to: Ski*Hi (provisions/staff), Curriculum (integrated/continuous development),
and Vocational programs (pre-vocational and 'on-the-job' placement). Available
resources and services located at MSD will be evaluated to determine how
they can be made available to the entire state. MSD will become a major
resource for services and/or staff development training needed by instructors
of the hearing impaired and students throughout the state.
2. Due to the age and
condition of the current facility, a new plant is under construction.
3. Assistance for special
needs students will be addressed through the addition of multi-handicapped
class; however, there is a growing need for more services for MHHI that
will require new staff and funds. We also have association with Vocational
Rehabilitation and other agencies that address job placement and /or independent
living skills.
4. A continuous "Upgrade
and Expansion' Program for staff growth and development has been implemented.
5. An evaluation process
to assist in regulating all the components of the program will be established.
Mississippi
School for the Deaf / Mississippi
School for the Blind
Section 43-5-1, Paragraph 2, of the
1990 Supplement, Mississippi Code reads as follows:
(2) The provision of this section shall not be construed to require any consolidation of combination of the Mississippi School for the Deaf and the Mississippi School for the Blind other than where economies can be realized through the common utilization of maintenance personnel and equipment, physical facilities, vehicles and administrative
With this direction, the Bureau of Combined
Services of the Mississippi Schools for the Blind and the Deaf are organized
with the intent of purpose to support the superintendents and staff so
that they can concentrate on the welfare and education of the students.
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Mississippi
School for the Blind
Boys Dormitory - good condition: construction
year, 1979; under renovation
Six portable Units - very poor condition;
Program Building (academic and adjoining
shop areas) - poor condition with cracks due to Yazoo clay- construction
year, 1949.
Girls Dormitory - usable due to determination
of damage to service lines. Damage caused by foundation shift. The students
are housed in a dormitory on the School for the Deaf site.
Mississippi
School for the Deaf
Dormitories A, B, and C - fair condition,
construction year, 1979;
Recreational Building - good condition,
construction year, 1979;
Two portable Units - very poor condition;
Vocational-Technical Annex - poor condition;
new complex under construction
Program Buildings (academic and adjoining
shop area) - poor condition, construction year, 1949;
Other Dormitories Building - poor condition,
construction year, 1949;
Central Operations Building (finance,
personnel, support services for MSD, a former dormitory)- fair condition,
construction year, 1949.
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