School for deaf, blind to remain open for now

TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The state Board of Education has decided to hold off on a plan to close the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind in Gooding to give officials more time to decide what is the best way to offer programs to the students.

The board Thursday put off the decision at least until its October meeting. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and board member Roderic Lewis each questioned the plan.

“We’re talking about shutting down what is a 100-year institution,” said Lewis. “I really struggle with this idea to jump in, if we vote, and take this whole thing on faith.”

Luna said he wanted more budget information and asked if school superintendents had been involved.

Others at the meeting flatly opposed the plan, including Elizabeth Cram, who said she has two blind sons and moved to Gooding in Southern Idaho to be near the school.

“This residential program is not merely special education,” she said. “It is specialized special education.”