After much debate, the Old Rochester Regional School Committee approved a one-year contract that will allow the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative to hold a program in rented space at the high school.

The collaborative is part of the public school system comprised of several member school districts, including ORR. SMEC’s main function is to provide services and programming for students with special needs. Several of its programs are conducted in space provided by member schools.

Following months of discussion with the SMEC subcommittee, SMEC Executive Director Catherine Cooper approached the ORR School Committee asking to hold a program at the school for students on the autism spectrum and with other developmental disabilities.

ORR High School Principal Mike Devoll had reservations as the school has an inclusion policy for special needs students and already has its own similar program. To have a separate group operating under a different philosophy was a contradiction, he said.

“We are a fully inclusive school. We believe it works well for our students,” said Devoll. “What message would we be sending if we are not welcoming in a fully inclusive group of students?”

He said a less inclusive program, in which students are not as fully integrated into the school community could be problematic.

The SMEC students would all be from other school districts, not ORRs. There would be around three students to begin with, all non-verbal, and the class would not exceed eight.

Cooper said, “Our goal for all students is to have them reintegrated back into their school districts.”

The students in the program might attend some classes at ORR, but they would not be enrolled at the school, she explained.

Cooper also said she would want the students to be part of the school rather than a completely separate entity. ORR was chosen for the culture of inclusion that already exists there, she said.

Superintendent Doug White said there were philosophical differences in the SMEC and ORR programs but emphasized that many districts do not have the same resources as the high school.

“We are fortunate to be able to support that kind of program and allow for our kids to be offered the type of inclusion models we have,” White said. “I’m not looking for this program to be an alterative for us.”

A number of parents came to the meeting and voiced their concerns.

Mattapoisett mom Laurie Plante, who has a student with special needs, was concerned about bringing a new program into the school as well as the effect on the school population.

“It seemed like there were so many contradictions,” Plante said of Cooper’s presentation. “I was hearing that it was a separate program but collaborative means we work together.”

Another mother, whose son already graduated from ORR, said she was concerned the SMEC program would separate the special needs students and contribute to a stigma.

Student representative Renee Reints spoke in favor of allowing the program to come to the school, given that ORR has the resources for it.

The ultimate question, which came from White was, “Are we truly a collaborative or are we when we choose to be?”

In the end, the school committee voted in favor of a one-year contract for the SMEC program.