Cuts May Affect Deaf Student Program

From: WNNE-TV, VT - 25 Nov 2002

Classes May Be Cut In Some Towns

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- The possibility of statewide school budget cuts next year has school officials looking for places to save.

In Portsmouth, a regional program for deaf and hard of hearing students could be in trouble.

New Hampshire is the only state without a school designed to educate the deaf. Portsmouth and Manchester have the two most extensive deaf programs in the state.

Paulette Hoeflich, the director of student services in Portsmouth, said that their program is going to be cut way back. The program has drawn students from other districts for 25 years. Fourteen students are enrolled this year.

Hoeflich has said the program for elementary school kids probably will be cut next year. She said that other districts will look at including the kids in their own classes.

Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.