J.L.
answers from
Minneapolis
on
.
-
Q&A
Get advice from millions of moms -
Timeline
See what’s coming up for your child
I woould like some opinions please. My son is 5 and has special needs. He was going to a school specific for his needs that is federally funded. He wasn't getting everything he needed there as far as communication and this has been an on going issue since September and the principal was aware of this personally because I had sent her an e-mail. She never responded to my e-mail so I re-sent it and then I got a vague response stating that they were trying to put something together to meet my sons needs. I had met with his 2 teachers twice about this and they put an informal schedule together. We tried it for about 1.5 months but they were not sticking with it so I called an IEP meeting to make sure it was added as additional services so that legally they had to stay true to their word. Well, after I did that communication with the teacher came to a screaching hault. At the meeting I addressed the teacher and he immediately got defensive rolled his eyes and adjusted his body to sit Indian style in his chair. I had to explain myself 6 times in the meeting regarding what we were looking to give my child because the teacher over and over again asked me to clarify what I was asking. My husband and I are very involved in our sons education and were both present. So the meeting ran out of time and we never got anything resolved. We had checked out another school who specialized in the special needs our son has and they did exactly what we were looking for so we made a transfer. I e-mailed the principal to let her know as well as I wanted to express to her why and I have gotten no response. I sent it with high importance and requested a receipt to be sent once she opened it and she must have checked no. I am very dissapointed as my son has been a student there since the beginning of last year. I guess my point with all of this rambling is that I do not think it is acceptable as a principal not to send any kind of response. That makes her look like she is part of the problem. At the very least I was hoping for a "Sorry things didn't work out and we wish him the best". What do you think?? Just curious. I know she received the e-mail because my family was receiving an outside service and the woman who provided it for us contacted me and stated that she was told we wouldn't be getting those services any longer.
Thank you all for your comments. As much as I wanted to just go off about the lack of professionalism from the principal I just tried to focus on the progress I have seen in my son. The entire situation has really taken a toll on my health and stress level. He is doing GREAT!! He loves it at his new school. I am so proud that he is taking the new change like a Big Boy :) I did get a very generic response a week later from the principal. I have no regrets and will continue to be my sons advocate and best Mommy that I can be. Have a great day all!
.
J.,
I think it is very unprofessional for the principal not to contact you or respond to your emails, aside from the jackwagon of teacher your son had!!! I would go higher than the both of them, I would contact the school superintendent and everyone else. I would let the superintendent know how I need to change my son to a different school because of the lack of professionalism and support in my son's present school. They need to be corrected, maybe they need some sort of better training to deal with special need children! who knows!
But I would not stay silent, and I would make an appointment with the principal and express my dissappointment in the school, teacher and her.
Blessings
I think you have your son in a new school you are happy with so leave the old principal alone.
I have to agree with Ivonne, this is probably happening to other students with special needs in this same school. It is their obligation to provide these students an education and if they are not doing it the school board needs to be notified. Good for you and your husband! The support you offer your son is invaluable. Good luck to him!
I think you made the right choice to move your son to a new school. The details and the reasons for moving don't really matter as much-- you are now getting what you need for your son. Leave the school alone. Yes, the nice thing to do would have been to respond, but not everyone is nice. I would leave it at that and not invest any more time or attention to it. It just reiterates the point that you made the right decision to move your child without a doubt! Good luck with the new school~
M
yeah, sounds like it was an unsatisfactory situation all round. but you're out of it now. don't distract yourself by continuing to fight an old unnecessary battle. put your energies into making sure the new situation works out better.
khairete
S.
Let's see...you weren't satisfied with a particular school for your child, you are of the opinion that they were unprofessional, uncaring and unwilling to serve your son, you moved him to a more appropriate setting where his needs are being met, yet you still want to be in communication with the unprofessional, uncaring and unwilling staff of his former school. Why? Leave the negative behind, move on with the positive.
My blood is boiling! If a principal cannot return an email and address the special needs of a child then the fact she is in education to begin with is unconscionable. She is part of the problem-and the teacher who sat crossed legged in front of you in a meeting? What kept you from smacking him? You have more strengththan most! I would have been kiked out of that meeting at the very least! Anyway-hire a child advocate and they will deal with the illegalities and make recommendations as to how to move forward. Good luck!
