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<\/p>\nSCRANTON \u2014 A new school site in Scranton named for a former mayor will help serve a growing population of special education students, including pupils with diagnosed autism spectrum disorder.<\/p>\n
The Scranton School District held an open house Thursday of the new Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East, a grades K-2 autistic support school at 1509 Maple St. on East Mountain.<\/p>\n
After purchasing the building in December to help address capacity concerns and accommodate a growing special education population, the district named the school for the former city mayor who died in 2024 at age 77.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a huge, huge supporter of schools. You can\u2019t come up with somebody better when you talk about somebody who\u2019s a supporter of public education,\u201d Superintendent Erin Keating, Ed.D., said in an interview at the open house.<\/p>\n
The Connors school is an expansion of the district\u2019s Monticello center-based program for special education students at the Electric City Academy at 1739 Dickson Ave.<\/p>\n
Part of the Connors school opened Aug. 26 with eight classrooms and 45 pupils. Work ongoing in another section of the building will create 10 emotional support classrooms there. Once that section is completed, the Connors school will have a total of 18 classrooms that could accommodate a total of up to 200 pupils, Principal Katelyn Nocera said.<\/p>\n
After work on the other part of the Connors building is completed and that section is ready to open, hopefully in January, the district will hold a grand opening of the Monticello East school, they said.<\/p>\n
The district has a large and growing need for special education services, Keating said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe need is significant,\u201d Keating said. \u201cWe are currently running in this district 58 autistic support classrooms. There are school districts that don\u2019t have 58 (total) classrooms.\u201d<\/p>\n
The district also currently has 21 emotional support classrooms.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe goal always \u2014 I\u2019ve said this a million times \u2014 we want everyone back in traditional school. We want everyone in their home schools. But there are kids, especially our youngest ones, who need some real intensive services in the beginning to be able to make that transition and this (Connors school) is going to provide that,\u201d Keating said.<\/p>\n
Districtwide enrollment is over 9,300 students, which is about 500 more than had been projected only a few years ago, Keating said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe population in the city is growing and it\u2019s shifting. West Scranton right now is the hot spot,\u201d Keating said.<\/p>\n
The expanded Monticello program now having an East Mountain location will complement and augment the district\u2019s school-based programs for special education students, which continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look at kids on the spectrum, you need to meet them at their needs, so that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing,\u201d Keating said. \u201cWe want to be able to provide the education the kids need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Numerous students and their families, school employees and district officials attended the inaugural open house of the Connors school on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Connors\u2019 widow, Susan Blum Connors, noted his advocacy included being a strong supporter of trying to keep preschools in the district open, among other matters.<\/p>\n
Regarding having the Monticello East school named for him, Connors said, \u201cIt\u2019s a wonderful honor for him. He was a real advocate for the Scranton School District, forever. He would be thrilled.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The Scranton School District hosted an open house for the new Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at the autistic support school at 1509 Maple St. on East Mountain. (JIM LOCKWOOD \/ STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n
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The Scranton School District hosted an open house for the new Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at the autistic support school at 1509 Maple St. on East Mountain. (JIM LOCKWOOD \/ STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.thetimes-tribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/STT-L-CONNORS-0912_4.jpeg?w=620\")
<\/p>\n
The Scranton School District hosted an open house for the new Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at the autistic support school at 1509 Maple St. on East Mountain. (JIM LOCKWOOD \/ STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.thetimes-tribune.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/STT-L-CONNORS-0912_3-1.jpeg?w=620\")
<\/p>\n
The Scranton School District hosted an open house for the new Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at the autistic support school at 1509 Maple St. on East Mountain. Connors\u2019 widow, Susan Blum Connors, poses for a photo while attending the open house. (JIM LOCKWOOD \/ STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n
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The Scranton School District hosted an open house for the new Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at the autistic support school at 1509 Maple St. on East Mountain. (JIM LOCKWOOD \/ STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n