I am a parent of a student attending the Clarence Brown Community School in Butler. Clarence Brown offers an invaluable program for special needs children who also have behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders.

I attended the public meeting Feb. 2 at Clarence Brown. The Butler Eagle did not report my statement regarding separating our kids from the teachers and school staff (“Wish way to save school”, Feb. 3, Page 1).

Children with autism spectrum disorders dislike major changes and they tend to act out in retaliation to big changes. I stated that if closing the building and relocation were necessary, then please keep them together with the same teachers and staff.

Closing this school will traumatize these kids. They already are challenged and at a disadvantage.

Last year, I inquired about fundraising, etc., to save the school and was told it wasn’t permitted. The Butler School District passed out financial figures regarding costs to run the school and costs of repairs. However, after my inquiries they quickly snatched up all paperwork and said it was inaccurate.

There are several Butler Area Schools for sale. Why won’t they let Clarence Brown to use them and allow the parents a chance to fund-raise to save our school?

I asked if they had contacted the press to attend. I asked if they had just one estimate and did they compare estimates. They did not. I asked if they had asked local businesses to donate supplies and donate their time to help our school. They failed to try.

I suggested remind businesses and contractors about the tax benefits and the good publicity tied to helping save a school for children with special needs.

What sickens me is all the money that this county is so quick to give away to drug addicts and programs for them, yet they can’t — or won’t — help our children. Drug addicts are adults who had a chance. These children have not been afforded an opportunity to even grow up with a chance. What kind of message does this send to our youth?