Tempers flared at a recent Saugus Union School District board meeting after parents of students with special needs were told their children would be transferred to another campus next year.

The concern for many parents is that the move will be disruptive and keep their children from growing and learning to their fullest extent.

“Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, the mild to moderate program will be relocated to Charles Helmers Elementary at 27300 N. Grandview Drive in Valencia,” was stated in a letter sent to parents by Diane D’Elia, director of student support services.

There are two levels of Special Day Classes for children with special needs in the Saugus Union School District. Level one is made up of students labeled “mild to moderate” and another that’s labeled, “moderate to severe,” according to D’Elia.

The point of the move, according to school officials, is to to keep students in each SDC level on one campus throughout TK-6th grade.

Sheryl Schultz is one of the parents of a special education student at Mountainview, who was told will be moved to Helmers starting next year.

“These kids thrive on continuity,” Schultz said. “Some of them have very rigid routines.”

Many parents say they have contacted experts who describe this kind of disruption as detrimental, noting some of their children have had up to three different teachers within the last two years.

“We directed cabinet to bring back a more comprehensive report at the June 16 meeting,” said Saugus Union board member Judy Umeck, addressing parents’ concern and noting the decision was not final.

Schultz agrees that the aim of the move — to keep students in each level on one campus throughout TK-6 grade would help these students adjust to their surroundings — but that her child, like many others is not being given that opportunity.

“This move is setting them up to fail,” Schultz said. “I’m very much so worried about my daughter — she will regress.”

Many parents are upset about how the move will affect their child, some questioning the legality of the move at the board meeting.

Saugus Union School District staff members were unavailable for comment.

“The proposed plan to isolate SDC two students on a single campus without access to SDC one classes would prevent students who don’t fit into either category perfectly from accessing the least restrictive environment, as required by law,” said Rachael Hamilton, a parent of a SDC Mountainview student who will be moved to Helmers next year.

Hamilton is also one of multiple families who, starting next year, will have one SDC child at one school, and another general education child at another school.

Least Restrictive Environment, or LRE, as Hamilton mentions, is a federal law that states, “students with disabilities must receive their education, to the maximum extent appropriate, with non-disabled peers and that special education students are not removed from regular classes unless, even with supplemental aids and services, education in regular classes cannot be achieved satisfactorily.”

As of right now, some Mountainview students in SDC two classes have the opportunity to spend some time throughout the day in a SDC one class.

“Some of the SDC two students are working their way up into the SDC one class,” Hamilton said. “Without that opportunity, they are not being offered what the law says they need to be.”

The problem boils down to the Bridgeport Elementary SDC students need to move campuses, according to some parents.

“We were told that the Bridgeport students needed to be moved,” Schultz said.

Two more classes for students with moderate to severe needs will be relocated from Bridgeport Elementary to Mountainview next year, according to school officials.

An LCAP meeting is set for May 27 to discuss funding for the education programs, including special education.

The next board meeting is set to take place June 16, when school officials and parents can once again discuss the transition.