New “Wheels” Help Students Navigate Their Future
There is nothing quite like a road trip to get one seeing the world a little differently, bringing with it the opportunity to build independence. For Scott Serum’s special education students, a set of new wheels was just the thing to make his classroom a little bigger and provide a chance to work on life skills. It was a long-shot of a dream for the MS/HS Special Education Teacher, working in a small rural school district, but thanks to the Transition Readiness Grant (TRG) program established under 2017 Act 59 (Act 59, the 2017-19 biennial budget), Mr. Serum’s wish was recently granted!
Serum’s vision became a reality with the help of Director of Student Services and ADA Coordinator Rebecca Johnson, who wrote the grant to fund the purchase of a van for the School District of Belleville. They needed a vehicle to seat eight students and provide additional space to transport one student’s wheelchair. It took some hunting to find the right one, but with the aid of the school district’s business manager, Erik Farrar, they were able to visit local dealerships and work out the details of purchasing a used vehicle that filled the needs of Mr. Serum’s students.
“Rebecca Johnson filled out the grant in the spring of 2023. We were awarded the grant in September of 2023, and after some trial and error with other vehicles, we were able to purchase a vehicle at the beginning of October 2023” says Serum.
The purchase of a used Honda Pilot has allowed Mr. Serum to help his students set life goals, and he is already seeing how having it has expanded the opportunities available in his classroom. For one thing, with the strains on district-owned transportation, having a dedicated classroom vehicle now gives Mr. Serum the flexibility to take his students on regular community outings without scheduling issues. The purpose of having the van is to arrange frequent student visits to increase vocational knowledge of businesses within his students’ local community. These business-based visits will hopefully help students gain interest in pursuing a job or career as they are ready. Trips like these also increase social skills – like being polite, engaging in conversation, and using active listening skills.
Serum notes, “Students are expected to ask questions on our outings about the business we are exploring and demonstrate listening skills by answering questions in the vehicle after we leave. Finally, students work on transition skills or skills that students will need after high school. An example of these skills include safety knowledge when out in the community.”
As Serum gets his feet wet this first year having the van, he and his students are already using it to go to the grocery store every week where they get groceries for their classroom and for elementary teachers who request supplies. The vehicle is also used to go on the district mail run where Mr. Serum and his students regularly go to the district office, high school office, elementary office, post office, and bank to deliver mail throughout the district and for bank deposits.
As for community outings, they have visited the RiverVille Bar and Grill, Duluth Trading Company Outlet Store, New Glarus Bakery, Pumpkin Patch, Charlie's Bark Park, Home of Our Own in New Glarus and Belleville Public Library, where his students received library cards.
Serum’s students are excited about their regular outings and enthusiastic about the new van.
Jonah Wortman remarked: “Charlie’s Bark Park in Belleville was my favorite place to visit because I like dogs.”
Rhoen Petro says: “My favorite place to visit was New Glarus Bakery because I got to eat a chocolate eclair!”
Max Foley reflected: “I liked reading a book at the public library.”
Dominic Aguilar expressed: “I enjoyed going to the Pumpkin Patch with my classmates and picking a pumpkin to paint.”
None of these experiences would be possible without the new “wheels” which have provided a road forward for students to improve their educational opportunities outside of their traditional classroom. Mr. Serum and his students are grateful that there was a way to make their dreams come true.
“Future trips include, UW-Geology Museum, Target for a scavenger hunt, YMCA in Monroe, bowling alley, and we are looking for more businesses to tour and learn about. So please, contact me if anyone is interested!” adds Mr. Serum.
