Okay, the first time this happened was when the school decided to have a "special" day and allow p.b./jelly sandwiches from the cafeteria for a treat. When my dh and I found out, we hit the roof, we went to the school and make quite a scene, not that we're proud of that, but they don't seem to listen any other way, the kids did not eat in the classroom, her classroom is peanut free.
The rule that was broken yesterday when the kids picked up garbage in gym class to honor green-up day, it is specifically written in her 504 that she doesn't pick up garbage, yet they had her do it anyway. I have not called anyone yet because I don't know who to call anymore. I guess my only choice left is to press charges with them. The last time I called a lawyer was when school started and he immediately called the principal which I don't think is right. I was only looking for info, but because I live in a small town and my dd is the only child with food allergies, it wasn't hard to figure out it was me that called even if the lawyer didn't say my name. Who do I complain to now? I am so frustrated with this all the time. We've been to the school board many times, I called the superintendent...what else can I do?
Tamie
If you have already called the Superintendent then you should call the Director of Education.
Hi Tamie, someone else recently mentioned the Reed Martin website. He seems to have loads of information on what your rights are and what you can do if the 504 is violated. Here's the URL:
[url="http://www.reedmartin.com/"]http://www.reedmartin.com/[/url]
Good luck.
Just a suggestion--but have you tried being nice about it instead of causing a scene?? If so, then I would hit the roof too!!
Send a letter addressed to the Classroom Teacher, Principal, Superintendent, Director of Education, Senetor, etc. When one person reads the letter and sees it has also been forwarded to many other professionals they should correct their errors!!
Tamie,
It is a small town. You need their cooperation. Don't go to a lawyer before you investigate all the other ways to help them understand.
Give them a bit of information, just the important stuff. Show them the video from FAAN. I can send you a copy if you need one.
Keep your cool, treat them with respect and kindness and it will come back to you. It is tough when we watch our children react so severely to something seemingly innocent like a peanut.
Help the school to understand this.
Good luck
Peggy
Sport,
To answer your question....we've been too nice most of the time. When we talk quiet and calm, we are just shrugged off like it's no big deal, I guess because we don't appear very upset. That's when we do get upset!! We tried talking to the principal about the p.b./jelly in the classroom and he said he didn't know because he was gone for a couple of days and that he didn't know what to do about it. He IS the principal, it's his job to know what is going on at the school and if he had offered to talk to the teachers and change things then the "scene" wouldn't have happened. Instead, he just walked off on us and went into the school. I guess because at that point we hadn't hollered he thought it wasn't a really BIG deal to us, that's when we followed him to his office and demanded that he do something. Finally, he did make calls to the cafeteria and other teachers involved and it was decided that the kids would eat in the cafeteria as usual. Now, how hard was that?? This same principal was caught driving with my 14 year old son on the highway (field trip) going 90 miles an hour, without our permission to even drive our son anywhere, (we thought the kids were going on a bus, anyway that's another story). This is also his first year at this school. These things didn't happen last year and if a mistake was made, an immediately apology was made.
Tamie
I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this. It sounds like it is a real mess!! It is awful that some people are in charge of our children. I hope that things improve for you soon.