The Edmond Sun

Local News

Related Photos

  • Drew Harmon

    pm_rubicon

Discussion

May 14, 2008

Rubicon School to close doors in June

Patty Miller

EDMOND — Answering the needs of families of children with autism spectrum disorders, The Rubicon School and Learning Center opened in early spring 2007. Now without some outside financial help, the school will close in June.

“With the increase in gasoline prices we have lost not only students, but teaching assistants as well,” teacher Heide Roden said.

The school opened last fall with 10 students, and now there are 17 students who will be affected if the school closes.

Parents travel from Bethany and as far away as Elk City each day to bring their children to the school.

“We have one child who is 3 years old and has been attending here for two months,” Roden said. “His parents bring him from Elk City each day. They arrive at the school at 12:30 p.m. and leave at 3:30 p.m. for the journey back home to Elk City.

The school is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to serving the needs of children with High Functioning Autism, Asperger’s, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder and other related disorders.

Many of the students who attend the school are high functioning with a mild form of autism.

“These students have problems with sensory issues,” Roden said, “and they may experience melt-downs.

“Some public school systems may not have room, trained teachers to interact with the students or a program to address the needs of these children.”

One family chose Rubicon because they felt like their son needed more individual attention.

“I began to check into alternative schools, and that’s when we learned about The Rubicon School and Learning Center,” Chris Wilson said. “We were impressed with the student/teacher ratio and felt like he would have a better chance at individual attention.”

Wilson said they noticed results immediately as his son Jesse started to use basic sign language and other skills.

Roden said parents are concerned with the closing for a variety of reasons.

“Most of our parents want to make sure they have places for their children to go during the summer,” Roden said. “They want to make sure there is no down time for learning.”

Families with children with varying degrees of autism face monetary, emotional and personal challenges, she said.

Educators have found students with special needs do better with continuity in learning.

“This is an under-served population,” Roden said. “Our children learn differently so we must teach differently and think differently about learning.”

Rubicon operates chiefly on tuition — 85 percent — and the remaining is raised through donations. Mailing a check directly to the school means 100 percent of the donation will be used by Rubicon.

“All donations are 100 percent tax deductible,” Wilson said. “If you want to make an online donation using the ‘justgive.org’ link located on the upper left hand side of the ‘The Importance of Giving’ page, keep in mind that Just Give takes 3 percent of the donation for processing costs.”

Donations may be made online at www.rubicon-learning.org/giving.htm. Wilson may be reached at 749-7989 or 826-6401.

Text Only
Local News
  • jc_babyA.jpg OU Medical Edmond greets 100th baby

    Sometimes it seems as if history repeats itself.
    My Birth Center at OU Medical Center Edmond delivered its 100th baby at 7:42 a.m. Friday, 44 years after the hospital’s first 100th baby was born in 1968. My Birth Center opened in September, becoming the first birth place available in Edmond since 2005.

    February 11, 2012 3 Photos

  • 2-11 Police & fire runs

    February 11, 2012

  • School board candidates release financial reports

    Both candidates running for the Edmond school board District No. 1 seat filed their first of two financial reports with the school administration.

    February 11, 2012

  • 2-11 Edmond Senior Center calendar

    The Edmond Senior Center, 2733 Marilyn Williams Drive, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
    For information about Edmond senior programs, stop by and pick up a monthly calendar, check out the website at edmondseniorcenter.com or call 216-7600.
    Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. and reservations are needed a day in advance by 11 a.m.
    For lunch reservations, call at 330-6293 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    February 10, 2012

  • State schools to receive No Child Left Behind waiver

    State Secretary of Education Phyllis Hudecki announced Thursday Oklahoma is one of 10 states chosen to receive a waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements.

    February 10, 2012

  • Logan Co. Democrats to meet Monday

    The Logan County Democratic Committee will have its monthly meeting on Monday.
    The main order of business will be Get Out the Vote for the April 3 state Senate race. Precinct officers are encouraged to attend. In addition to business and planning items, the group will celebrate Logan County Democrats with birthdays in February. 

    February 10, 2012

  • Eloise Rees.jpg Edmond loses wealth of knowledge with death of resident

    The death of longtime Edmond resident Eloise Rodkey Rees goes with the saying that with every death, you lose a library.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • Polling places: Where to vote

    February 10, 2012

  • Humphreys seeks Senate seat

    Fearing that the liberties of Oklahomans are slipping away, Republican Chris Humphreys said he hopes to win the state Senate District 20 primary race set for Tuesday.

    February 10, 2012

  • Unwritten contracts hard to prove

    Q: Can an agreement be enforced if it is not in writing?
    A: Although it is generally advisable to put every agreement in writing, most agreements can be enforced without written evidence of the deal. Both oral and written contracts can, in the right circumstances, bind the parties to perform.

    February 10, 2012