Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD) is a public school in Salem, Oregon, United States. It serves deaf and hard of hearing students from kindergarten through high school, and up to 18 years of age.
History
Established in November 1870 by the Oregon Legislative Assembly as the Deaf and Mute Institute to provide free public education to deaf children, it is one of the oldest continuously operating schools in Oregon. It is operated by the Oregon Department of Education, and has been accredited by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools since 2004 and also by the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf.
Academics
ESP is a program to teach living skills to students who have modified diplomas or certificates. OSD offers honors, AP and career courses. It serves students who are deaf or heard of hearing in their Community Based Instruction program.
As of the 2004-05 academic year, the total full-time enrollment of the school, exclusive of cooperative programs with local school districts, was between 125 and 135.
In 2005, by order of the state legislature included in its annual appropriation for the school, study was begun on the potential benefit of moving the Oregon School for the Blind to the OSD campus. Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo rejected a proposal for services now provided by the school to be provided instead through contracts with other public or private institutions.
Buildings in named in honor of staff and alumni
- Clatterbuck Services Facility, in honor of Superintendent Dr. Marvin B. Clatterbuck
- Hokanson Gym, in honor of Conrad Hokanson, pioneering basketball coach whose descendants still attend the school
- Kuenzi Hall, in honor of Lewis Kuenzi, alumni and long-time staff
- Lindstrom Hall, in honor of Thomas Lindstrom, long-time teacher, two-time acting superintendent
- Peck Multipurpose Building, in honor of William "Bill" Peck, long-time teacher and director of school
- Peterson Hall, in honor of Ruth Peterson, long-time girls' supervisor
- Tillinghast Cottage, in honor of Superintendent Edward Tillinghast
- Ulmer Hall, in honor of Thomas Ulmer, long-time teacher
- Wallace Hall, in honor of Ruth Wallace, long-time supervisor of the pre-school dormitory
- Wynkoop-Smith Library, in honor of William Stephen Smith and Cora (Wynkoop) Smith, the school's founder and his wife
The main building and school building were razed in December 1975 without authorization from the State Legislature.
Extreme Makover: Home Edition
In Episode 172 of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, a special Halloween episode, Ty and the gang help renovate the school's Nightmare Factory, which is a haunted house in which the proceeds are used to keep the school afloat. Instead of Ty shouting with his bullhorn to surprise the school, he sends a small plane with a visual message while the staff and students are having their annual barbecue. While the students are in Minnesota getting new hearing aids, the team builds a new dormitory for the boys as their old dorms along with the Nightmare Factory was considered unsafe to live in. Guest stars include actress Marlee Matlin and Rob Zombie.
Since then, the new dormitory has been rarely utilized due to budget constrictions.
Nightmare Factory
The haunted house was founded in 1987.
See also
- Deaf culture
References
External links
- "Biennial Report 2002-2004" (PDF). Salem, Oregon: Oregon School for the Deaf. 2004.Â
- "Oregon School for the Deaf". Salem Online History. Salem, Oregon: Salem Public Library. 2006.Â
- "Special Education". Oregon Blue Book (Online). Salem, Oregon: Oregon Secretary of State. 2006.Â
- State Superintendent Report from 1897