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Ground on Dublin's new housing development Schaffer Ranch was broken by golden shovels, followed by dozens of miniature plastic shovels, marking a new beginning for the School of Imagination.

The one-of-a-kind school started in the rented Pleasanton home of Charlene and Mitch Sigman in 2001. Then called Happy Talkers and focusing on therapy programs for children with autism and special needs, it quickly grew from four children to 120, forcing the couple to move to a larger home.

In the past five years, the school has moved seven times. Most recently the school has been housed at CrossWinds church in Dublin, but the program continued to grow and the church moved properties.

"The last moving truck I ever want to see is one with the word 'permanent' on the side," Charlene Sigman said. "All I and our parents ever wanted was to have a stable environment, where kids with everything from autism to speech and developmental delays could have a familiar home that wasn't going to be taken away at a moment's notice."

The school was Dublin's Organization of the Year for 2007 and was also featured on CBS's "Eye on the Bay." James Reid, executive producer of the show, has since shown his support for the program by lending his talents to coordinate the groundbreaking event.

The Dec. 2 groundbreaking marked the beginning of what will be their last move. The 13,000-square-foot facility will include eight classrooms for the kindergarten, preschool and preschool readiness programs, and 10 individual therapy rooms. The school's programs also include speech therapy, occupational therapy, community outreach, parent support, social skills and academic tutoring.

"Our whole mission started when we saw the incredible need," Mitch Sigman said. "People drove, and still do, over 200 miles, several days a week to get their kids to our inclusion program. We have placed children into typical classrooms, once diagnosed as too disabled."

Outgoing Dublin Mayor Janet Lockhart and former City Manager Richard Ambrose helped broker a deal with Discovery Builders to grant them the space in the West Dublin hills development, which is accessible by the extended Dublin Boulevard.

In her last day as mayor, Lockhart was one of several involved community leaders and members to welcome School of Imagination to their new home. Mitch Sigman said it was Lockhart who played "matchmaker" and the developers "fell in love with our children."

The Seeno family and Discovery Homes is funding 100 percent of the construction costs.

"Talk about a miracle," Mitch Sigman said.

As far as filling the building goes, the school continues to have support from Pleasanton North Rotary. They have given $35,000 to the school in November and have pledged more. Bill Wheeler, Frank Hanna, Dominic Pipitone, Judge Ron Hyde and Jim Ott were also there to celebrate at the groundbreaking ceremonies.

"PNR has made us their ongoing major beneficiary as well as providing the sweat-equity to complete the school," Mitch Sigman said.

Another school supporter is Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton), who has helped the school secure additional federal funding and helping the program reach more children.

"He is the voice of our annual Autism Outreach and leads his staff to help us," Mitch Sigman said. "Together with County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, they connected us to become the 211 resource in Alameda County, for families needing assistance with their child's development."

To learn more about the School of Imagination, call 829-9552 or visit www.schoolofimagination.org.

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