Special Ed Parent Feels "Deceived, Threatened"

Following is a letter from a special educaton parent to the School Board:

I am writing this e mail as the Mother of a Special Ed Child in the district. I am totally frustrated and disappointed in our World Class School System. I had one child go through the Santa Monica school system with a successful experience.

For the most part the system worked for my Special education child as any differences or challenges were able to be worked out/resolved by the school, principal or District Administrators.

This was the case up until approx. 3-4 years ago when current assistant Superintendent Tim Walker took charge of the Dept .

Our experience of being deceived and feeling threatened by district personnel is not isolated, many parents of Special Ed children are too afraid to come forward !

In June 2006 with high school approaching, we requested that my child attend MHS, (SMHS is his home school). He had been assaulted at LMS and we felt the smaller MHS campus would be a safer environment.

We trusted the District (Mr. Walker) as my husband signed a “Confidential Agreement” to transfer to MHS, under duress. When my child showed up to start MHS, his aide was lifted. When we challenged this Mr Walker informed us we had signed the agreement. He totally deceived my husband!

MHS was a disaster for my child. There was no transition plan to help him adjust to his new school. He was not given the appropriate services to meet his needs.

In Nov 2006 (3 months into the school year) we requested a transfer to his home school SMHS. Mr. Walker would only approve this if we signed another “Confidential Agreement”, stating there had been no issues at MHS, untrue.

We went to the district building and were informed we could not leave the building with a copy of the agreement unless it was signed.

We had to get a lawyer to protect our child.

This is outrageous!!!! Never, as parents in the district for over 15 years, have we been treated in this manner.

Our "Confidential Agreement" expired in June 2007, we then could transfer to his home school SMHS. We were told by the MHS IEP team there would be a transition to help him to SMHS. We showed up to start school with no one to help us.

Two years have now passed, my child has not received the appropriate services. I just came out of my IEP last week and was told by the IEP team if I needed any remedial tutoring for my son I should seek out tutors at local colleges or churches.

I have no one to appeal to at the school site. I have lost faith in the current District Personnel (decision makers who in the past have helped and made a difference).

I am faced with legal issues and going outside the District for help.This is my son’s plight, but we are not alone. I am speaking for many many parents.

Please pay attention to Lou Barber’s report and change the current Regime at the District level with professionals who once again realize these are children’s lives they are dealing with.

The current Superintendent indicated that only 5 % of families were not satisfied with the system. That is simply not true she is dead wrong.

Please help to make the changes necessary to benefit our special ed children.

Sincerely,