Bynum enters 40th year in Permian Basin

Sep. 1—School is back in session for students at Midland's Bynum School. But school is almost always in session there as they are year-round.

On a recent hot summer day, sweet, smiling faces show off their latest works of art. The artwork is drawings made with salt — many are Popsicles; one is a beach ball and another is a pineapple.

The Bynum School students were enjoying the waning days of summer with outings and art work. And learning.

Always learning. Everything is a lesson at this bright and shiny school. Learning new skills and these works of art are something the young students are clearly proud of (even if some are a bit too shy to show them off).

Midland's Bynum School, leaders say, is unlike any other. Tracy Bush, director of development, details how the almost 40-year-old school moved to a new location about five years ago in northwest Midland.

Bush is proud of the work the school does and said Bynum School is the only public or private school in West Texas providing uninterrupted year-round services to special needs students from age 3 to adult. Bush not only works at the school but has a long relationship with it through her sister who is Bynum's longest served student.

Bynum School is for students who exhibit intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities of all types, unique and rare syndromes, and medical fragility. It has had amazing growth during the past five years. Bush says the rise in enrollment reflects the community's need for high-quality education for its special needs population.

Abilities, not disabilities

Keri St. John, executive director of schools, detailed special needs students are learning not only the typical lessons at Bynum but also empathy.

"Empathy is important ...We teach how to volunteer and we instill in students a sense of community and from primary through vocational training they learn to volunteer," St. John said.

For 30 years, students have volunteered with Helping Hands in Midland and also give of their time through Meals on Wheels and nursing homes. "At the nursing homes, the students play with the residents and it gets the students out and in the community."

Bynum School currently serves more than 100 students in the Permian Basin. The preschool-high school program is accredited by Cognia. The school helps students grow in academic, life, social and behavioral skills.

The school site has quite a bit of land that has not been developed.

St. John, Bush and Odessan Mitchie Rush, director of finance and accounting, detailed future plans for the school, including a group home for older students and even some efficiency apartments for those who can live on their own. An indoor rec center and a chapel are in the future plans, as well.

Part of what makes Bynum special is the vocational program for adults and teens with special needs that provides individualized educational and independent life skills training. Its Jobsite Training Program has successfully led many students to become productive citizens working in the Permian Basin.

"Bynum serves the entire community and what happens here affects the city and the medical community and we are constantly asking 'how can we better serve this population?'" Rush said.

All three agreed that the special needs community is more than mom and dad and the student. "We are an asset for the Permian Basin," Bush added about the school. "We have come a long way and the community supported that ... All of the Permian Basin supports that."

Bush said about 30 percent of the school's revenue comes from tuition and the rest is from grants, community support and several annual fundraisers.

Students come to Bynum from Odessa, Andrews, Stanton, Garden City, Big Spring, Lamesa and Pecos.

Part of that draw, Rush said, is that Bynum leaders looked at other special needs schools around the nation and asked the hard questions like what do they have and what do they do?

Bynum offers therapies, such as speech and music and occupational, that are included in tuition and that students don't have to leave campus to do.

The school operates year-round. "There is a lot of uniqueness about Bynum," Bush added.

Bush said teachers and therapists strive to make sure students are able to use what they learn in "real life" and not just in the relative safety and support system of a classroom. "Sure they can perform in a little room all the time, but what about going to Burger King and being able to tell what they want?"

Therapists work with teachers both in and out of the classroom to create a cohesive approach, Bush said.

There are behavior therapies and teachers and staff work to re-direct students who might be on the verge of a "meltdown."

"We are not miracle workers, but teachers get into the classroom and work hard to help all types of students."

This 2024 school year will be the 40th anniversary of Bynum. "We are very excited about that," Bush said adding that there are no bullies on Bynum's campus but rather acceptance and help.

She said many students who are verbal and who can do more on their own often mentor other students. "We are really integrated in our own right both here at the school and when we go out into the community to do different activities and partner with other schools to integrate them that way, too."

The school has 117 students enrolled for fall currently. About 30 percent of those students are from Odessa.

You can help

A current need for the school is a van driver for those Odessa students. Bush said it is a commitment of about an hour in the morning and in the afternoon. It does not require a CDL, but does require a clean driving record and a background check. The van is parked in Odessa and students can be dropped off there and transported to the school and back each day.

Bush said they hope to find a driver who has some frame of reference in dealing with special needs students. Parents are currently carpooling.

The school is also seeking substitute teachers and vocational assistants who can work in the school's wood and ceramics shops. They also teach the older students life skills such as cooking and filling out job applications.

The ceramics shop creates a number of items from holiday decor to tiny white doves that Hospice gives out to those who have lost a loved one.

The wood shop also completes holiday signs and help is always needed in the greenhouse. Both the wood shop and ceramic shop offer their works for sale. The wood shop sells a popular Texas wall hanging that has spent shotgun shells all over it that sells out as soon as the items are ready.

The ceramics are all professional quality and popular items for sale. All are created by students who are working not just for a diploma, but for life-long skills that lead to fulfilling lives.

All three women are quick to point out that many students work, drive and "contribute to their communities," Bush said.

Keeping classes small has been critical to the success of the school with about a 5 student to 1 instructor ratio.

"Parents of special needs children sometimes feel they can't go out to eat or to church, but we teach skills that allow them to take their children to movies and splash pads and church. It gives our community a vision of our people to see them out and about successfully," she added.

New this year at the school will be a full-time armed security guard.

Over the summer, two Odessans graduated from the school, along with others from across the Permian Basin, and walked the stage in the school's gym.

The students and staff planted peach and pecan trees. Raised-bed vegetable gardens are also on the way.

A quick tour of the building reveals a bright playground with well-manicured grounds. The gym also doubles as a stage with lights and a projector. An outdoor seating area with tables can be a waiting area or an outdoor picnic spot.

The ceramic and wood shop is already filled with Halloween and Christmas projects such as nativity scenes and smiling pumpkins. "The students get paid from their work in the ceramic and wood shops," Bush said. "It teaches them early the more you do, the more money you make ... It helps them feel what it is to have a job."

Bush said her own sister, who is nonverbal but communicates with a device, goes to Bynum each day and also to work at the Food Bank or other places. "She knows she can put money in her pocket and buy a Dr. Pepper."

She said another recent student found work at the Friends of the Library. The student had always wanted to be a librarian and she loves the job.

All students have goals that are "working goals" and the school, Bush said, strives to help them meet and surpass those goals. Meeting those goals makes all the difference for many students.

Coming fundraisers

A clay shoot is held each year to help support the school as well as "Smash."

Smash is a tennis event and is scheduled this year Oct. 19-20. It used to be a one-day event, but has been so popular that an extra day was added. Call the school at 432-520-0076 for more information on fundraisers or on the school.