School Redistricting scream
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| Thu, 08-23-2007 - 8:21am |
We had our hearing before the judge yesterday to hear our appeal about our elementary school being redistricted. I had not brought my ds dx into the appeal, but another parent brought up their ds PDD and how the schools do not have equal services for special needs children. The other family is new to the area and didn't have all the answers to the opposing lawyer's questions about the schools' services, so I went ahead and brought up my ds AS, so I could answer some of the questions. The judge allowed our testimony, but afterwards reprimanded us for sharing confidential information (the dx are supposed to be confidential). Ummmm, how do we argue that the schools can't provide equal services if we can't bring up the dx?! Argh!
My other upset was that one of the reps for the county School Board flat out perjured himself on the stand many times. The State Board of Ed had ordered that the county Board provide transcripts of meetings. The lawyer for the County split hairs saying that they didn't have transcripts, only tapes of the meetings, and the judge let it slide.
Without those transcripts, I can't disprove any of the many lies the county rep made, including that there was equal support from the community over the different redistricting plans. There was never, EVER, even one person who spoke in support of the redistricting plan that was selected. In fact, even the school fought against it (through the PTA president), which is on record in the transcripts.
I guess I just have to get used to the idea of my kids going to a new school. The school itself is not necessarily bad, but besides the transition for my two ds, a crossing guard was denied (the transportation dept conducted the study about it's necessity during last school year when our kids weren't even attending the new school -- never mind the fact that there are a half dozen other crossing guards in the area because it's such a busy street), so my kids can't walk to school any more, and I can't walk with them because I have to get my other two kids to their schools. That walking time was extremely beneficial to both ds for behavior and social time. Sigh!

Oh man! that is so frustrating!
Was there no way to rebut that School board rep's testimony? Surely someone else who was at the meeting could have stood up and contradicted him?
I'm very sorry it has come to this. I have been following your posts on this redistricting fiasco, and I was sure you guys would win. But I guess that's the idealist in me. Realistically, very few people take on The Man and win. :(
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
geez, that stinks! I can't believe the judge just let something like the missing transcripts slide! How can they do that and expect this to be a fair hearing?!?! AND if you want your child's Dx to be public, you're entitled to that right, no one else can give out that information BUT because you're the parent you can tell whoever you darn well please! geez!
I've really been hoping you could win this one-- just seems to make much more common sense than the whole redistricting.
Betsy
Wow, how "Convenient" for them to loose those transcripts.
And yes, I am appalled that as a parent we can't disclose our kids dx, especially when it's appropriate as in your case!!!
Tupid Schools GRRRRR
Lainie
Thanks for your support. I feel better after screaming about it. I had a hard time sleeping last night since I was so in knots over it.
Tonight we had the kids' meet-the-teacher night. After touring the school and meeting the teachers, both boys are pretty excited about their upcoming new experience. Of course AS ds teacher hasn't seen any paperwork about him or even knew that he had a 504. She was quite responsive about looking for it and working with us, so I'm hoping it will all work out well.
After we got home, 8yo AS ds said "I don't think I want us to win the appeal after all." I'm still not thrilled about the safety issues (crossing busy streets with no crossing guards -- guards were denied since the need study was conducted during last school year when our kids were still at their old school) or that this school feeds into a different middle school which is farther away and on a secure military base which makes it harder to get to the school for doctor appts, but at least the boys aren't traumatized about the current switch in schools. I'm still crossing my fingers that we win the appeal, though.