BEVERLY — With a new $4.8 million building slated to open next October, the Children's Center for Communication and Beverly School for the Deaf expects to nearly double its enrollment.
The 132-year-old institution was on the brink of closing five years ago but has since bolstered its programs, has redefined its mission and is now operating at full capacity. There are about 50 families in the parent/infant/toddler program, which starts teaching children sign language almost from birth, and 52 students attending classes on campus, said Judy Gansberg, public relations manager.
In 2004, there were two families in the infant/toddler program and 23 students on campus — an all-time low. Now, it's so cramped that all administrative offices were moved first into two trailers, and then into the former girls dormitory on Elliott Street so all space in the main building can be dedicated to students.
The new 30,000-square-foot building will be attached to the main building and will include 13 classrooms, a cafeteria, library and office space.
"The ever-increasing demand from regional communities to accept students who are deaf, hard of hearing or have other communication-centered issues has made it necessary for us to increase our ability to accept more children," Executive Director Mark Carlson said in a prepared statement. "In addition, we will be able to offer more state-of-the-art technology to our students once we have the additional space."
The increase in students stems from last year's decision to promote its parent/infant/toddler program, which acts as a feeder program for the school, and to expand services for students who have other communication disorders besides deafness, Carlson has said.
Beverly School for the Deaf added the name "The Children's Center for Communications" to convey a commitment to special education students. Creating a new building for an anticipated increase in that portion of enrollment was part of the rebranding plan launched in September 2008, and it's been successful, Carlson said.
The space will be for students whose primary issue is deafness, and for students with verbal and cognitive special needs who also have hearing loss and benefit from sign language and visual communication.
Although there are separate classrooms and teaching methods for the two populations, the students also work together and interact in some of the same spaces. This new building will be no exception.
"Everything is going to be shared," Gansberg said. "The kids will still remain mixed."
The new building is being built by Windover Construction. A groundbreaking ceremony has been postponed until mid-January.
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salem news.com.
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