Post by Claire on Apr 10, 2006 22:38:37 GMT -5
I went to the School Councl meeting tonight, an had the Chair of our local Community Living came with me. I am sooooo hurt right now. I feel there is never justice for our children. I was on the Agenda for tonight's meeting so I had every right to read my letter. The Reeve who is the parent's representative from the School Board was there tonight. The principal took over the meeting completely once she saw I was there. I was asked by the Chair of the Council to please read my letter when it came my time on the agenda. The principal said" I don't think so, anyhting this council gets to read has to be approved by me first." As if 
I have served on several Ministry Board and the Chair is in charge not the principal, and what is on the agenda has to be addressed as so. I told her I was on the agenda and politely told her I had a right to the floor and was allowed by policy laws to say my piece. Would you believe that the principal turned to the Reeve and said "Could you handle that one please?" The Reeve told me the principal was right, even though I did say I was not naming any names or making any accusation but wanted the School Council to know about my issues as a parent as I still have one child in that school. The principal got up and grabbed all the of my letters that I had distributed to the other members, and took them from them. The representative for Community Living told her she did not have a right to do that. She just ignored her and kept going. I said " Sorry but you cannot do that, it is in their power to refuse them but not in yours to retreive them" She just kept going so I got up, went to the space where she was sitting, grabbed the whole pile of my letters and took hers too that she was holding, (hoping to read of course). I told her that she did not have any rights then to read it either. I also grabbed her copy of the agenda as mine was still at my spot at the table. She said this one is mine, I said well I need to copy it to document it so you can get mine if you wish.I thank the Council for at least for putting me on their agenda, looked at the principal then the Reeve and said " OK now you give me no choice but to go higher then the Board." I left it at that. I have talked to my hubby and we are calling the Canadian Down syndrome assocciation and will go public with this. They have given us no choice, we have already sent complaint packages to the Human Rights Commission, Child Advocacy, the Onbusman, Community Living Canada. Now it's time to get dirty. I really did not wish to go this way as it will affect us too, we cannot afford $60,000. for a lawyer so the only problem is if we sign off with the DS association I think it is out of our hands what happens in the media. And that can be scary. Anyways thanks for letting me vent. The fight is not over. You may see me in pictures.
I have served on several Ministry Board and the Chair is in charge not the principal, and what is on the agenda has to be addressed as so. I told her I was on the agenda and politely told her I had a right to the floor and was allowed by policy laws to say my piece. Would you believe that the principal turned to the Reeve and said "Could you handle that one please?" The Reeve told me the principal was right, even though I did say I was not naming any names or making any accusation but wanted the School Council to know about my issues as a parent as I still have one child in that school. The principal got up and grabbed all the of my letters that I had distributed to the other members, and took them from them. The representative for Community Living told her she did not have a right to do that. She just ignored her and kept going. I said " Sorry but you cannot do that, it is in their power to refuse them but not in yours to retreive them" She just kept going so I got up, went to the space where she was sitting, grabbed the whole pile of my letters and took hers too that she was holding, (hoping to read of course). I told her that she did not have any rights then to read it either. I also grabbed her copy of the agenda as mine was still at my spot at the table. She said this one is mine, I said well I need to copy it to document it so you can get mine if you wish.I thank the Council for at least for putting me on their agenda, looked at the principal then the Reeve and said " OK now you give me no choice but to go higher then the Board." I left it at that. I have talked to my hubby and we are calling the Canadian Down syndrome assocciation and will go public with this. They have given us no choice, we have already sent complaint packages to the Human Rights Commission, Child Advocacy, the Onbusman, Community Living Canada. Now it's time to get dirty. I really did not wish to go this way as it will affect us too, we cannot afford $60,000. for a lawyer so the only problem is if we sign off with the DS association I think it is out of our hands what happens in the media. And that can be scary. Anyways thanks for letting me vent. The fight is not over. You may see me in pictures.
I am so sorry this had to happen....
&
Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
