Post by mollysmomma on Sept 10, 2008 6:47:01 GMT -5
ozarksfirst.com/content/fulltext/?cid=57871
Dispute Over Special Needs Child's Education
Reported by: Angie Weidinger
Tuesday, Sep 9, 2008 @08:40pm CST
(Iberia, MO) -- The state of Missouri is looking into the workings of a local school district.
KOLR/KSFX's Angie Weidinger was in Iberia, which is in Miller County, as an investigator with the state's Children's Division left the school's main offices.
The state is unable to say anything about the investigation, but the student's mother says the same investigator visited her house looking into the education of her son, who has Down Syndrome and autistic tendencies.
"Okay Cole, are we going to dance?" asked Carrie Marlow, Cole's mom as she played a CD of music for him.
It's a school day, but 12-year-old Cole Marlow isn't in class. That's because a letter from the Iberia School District says he was suspended for nine days for physically assaulting his aide, squeezing her to the point where she passed out.
"My son's a very loving child, he loves to hug and kiss people, that's just Cole," said Carrie. "He's a strong little boy, but not so strong that you couldn't say, you got to be soft when you love somebody and he loosens up."
Carrie wasn't at the school when the incident happened, but believes it highlights the inadequacies of her son's education, which she's been complaining about for months.
"His aide is an older lady and she's not qualified to provide what my son needs," explained Carrie.
Cole's IEP, Individualized Education Plan, shows exactly what the school is supposed to provide Cole: normal classwork along with speech and occupational therapy inside a self-contained classroom.
"The room he's in looks like a cage," said Carrie.
KOLR/KSFX visited the school, but the superintendent refused to answer questions about Cole's care. But he did allow video to be taken of the room in question.
"They never told us his classroom would look like a jail cell. There's nothing in there that's educational," said Carrie.
The school couldn't confirm that the room off of the special education classroom has been used as Cole's regular learning environment, but Carrie says she's found her son in there on multiple visits this school year and last.
She recalled, "The second day of school, I went in there and found him in there again. He was lying on a cot sleeping at 11:00 a.m., and they left one door open and there was an aide sitting there. At 11:00, why is my son not learning?"
Carrie admits her son does have a lot of challenges, but she thinks the district should be able to work past those to educate her child.
"I asked the school, 'what have you done to provide an education for my child?'" said Carrie. "Since about the fourth grade, he has progressed none."
According to federal law, children with disabilities must receive a free appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. The Marlows say they don't feel that is happening for their son and at this point, they're considering moving to get better care for him in another district.
The Iberia superintendent who is new to the district this school year, released a statement after our visit. It says that the district is looking into the assault of a staff member by a student along with the Division of Youth Services and trying to determine what, if any, steps should be taken to minimize the recurrence of the problem.
Dispute Over Special Needs Child's Education
Reported by: Angie Weidinger
Tuesday, Sep 9, 2008 @08:40pm CST
(Iberia, MO) -- The state of Missouri is looking into the workings of a local school district.
KOLR/KSFX's Angie Weidinger was in Iberia, which is in Miller County, as an investigator with the state's Children's Division left the school's main offices.
The state is unable to say anything about the investigation, but the student's mother says the same investigator visited her house looking into the education of her son, who has Down Syndrome and autistic tendencies.
"Okay Cole, are we going to dance?" asked Carrie Marlow, Cole's mom as she played a CD of music for him.
It's a school day, but 12-year-old Cole Marlow isn't in class. That's because a letter from the Iberia School District says he was suspended for nine days for physically assaulting his aide, squeezing her to the point where she passed out.
"My son's a very loving child, he loves to hug and kiss people, that's just Cole," said Carrie. "He's a strong little boy, but not so strong that you couldn't say, you got to be soft when you love somebody and he loosens up."
Carrie wasn't at the school when the incident happened, but believes it highlights the inadequacies of her son's education, which she's been complaining about for months.
"His aide is an older lady and she's not qualified to provide what my son needs," explained Carrie.
Cole's IEP, Individualized Education Plan, shows exactly what the school is supposed to provide Cole: normal classwork along with speech and occupational therapy inside a self-contained classroom.
"The room he's in looks like a cage," said Carrie.
KOLR/KSFX visited the school, but the superintendent refused to answer questions about Cole's care. But he did allow video to be taken of the room in question.
"They never told us his classroom would look like a jail cell. There's nothing in there that's educational," said Carrie.
The school couldn't confirm that the room off of the special education classroom has been used as Cole's regular learning environment, but Carrie says she's found her son in there on multiple visits this school year and last.
She recalled, "The second day of school, I went in there and found him in there again. He was lying on a cot sleeping at 11:00 a.m., and they left one door open and there was an aide sitting there. At 11:00, why is my son not learning?"
Carrie admits her son does have a lot of challenges, but she thinks the district should be able to work past those to educate her child.
"I asked the school, 'what have you done to provide an education for my child?'" said Carrie. "Since about the fourth grade, he has progressed none."
According to federal law, children with disabilities must receive a free appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. The Marlows say they don't feel that is happening for their son and at this point, they're considering moving to get better care for him in another district.
The Iberia superintendent who is new to the district this school year, released a statement after our visit. It says that the district is looking into the assault of a staff member by a student along with the Division of Youth Services and trying to determine what, if any, steps should be taken to minimize the recurrence of the problem.
