6 week wait for school dist. meeting?

[FINFAN]

Hi....I am trying to have a productive meeting between DS teacher, principal, and school dist. representative to discuss DS future and teachers negative atmosphere, etc. and was told the soonest meeting would be for a 1/2 hour time slot JANUARY 21ST!!!! Is it just me or does that sound really lousy, to only offer 30 minutes and to have it be so far off? GGGRRRRRRR!!!!!!! I will certainly keep up my search for a new school!

 

[cinlee3]

Wow, that does seem like a long time to have to wait. Did they give you any reason as to why they have to schedule the meeting so far off?

Wishing the best for you and DS.

 

[amid chaos]

Ridiculous...maybe a letter to the Superintendant suggesting how unreasonable this is could speed things up.

 

[Boots]

That sounds like a very long time off to me. Just in my opinion it seems like this week or next week at they very latest. Sorry you are having to wait so long.

 

[wvjules]

Normally, I'd say that's a long time to wait. BUT it is Thanksgiving week, then only 3 weeks before the 2 week Christmas break. I'm sure the teachers/principal has a lot to do (academically) during this time of year.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

FINFAN,

What school district representative are you trying to get involved? The meeting does sound like it is awfully far off to me. I could imagine our school taking that long right now if I wanted the school Psychologist in attendance. Right now is annual IEP review time at our school and she is very tied up with those meetings. Also, Christmas break is getting very close At other times of the year, it's usually possible to get an appt. within a week.

Still - January 21 is going to put you all the way to the end of the 1st semester. You'll be 1/2 way through the school year by then and still feeling like the year is being wasted. I can understand why you are so frustrated.

I know you are really struggling with these issues. I hope you can find a quicker resolution.

 

[FINFAN]

O.K. I guess we were all thinking along the same lines....I did not go ballistic on the phone when I heard the date because I was taking the Holidays into consideration, but I explained to them about the Psychologists schedule and I think that botheres them....since I went outside of the district for private testing. I could be speculating tho.....I did contact the Superintendants office and the secretary notated my concerns and I am hoping to hear from them before the Thanksgiving break.
I have contacted the principal from the elementary school in our old neighborhood....he has been sympathetic to my concerns, but the bottom line is that it is still in the same district and follows the same curiculum...but at least the overall negative reinforcement is not followed by his school. That is one step in the right direction.
I did manage to have a few other parents agree to write letters stating their dissatisfaction with the school overall. I know I sound whiney about all of this, but it just seems unreal that in this day and age it is this difficult to try and work on behalf of the student.
Thanks to you all for the support, it is really helpful! DS and I can't thank you enough!
Pam

 

[Tiffany]

Hi FINFAN,

I am interested in what you mean by "negative reinforcement"? If this school and the old school are in the same school district they should be following the same district polices.

 

[RitaZ.]

I wonder what they would say if they requested a conference with you due to a problem/concern about your child and you told them you couldn't do it for 2 months?

 

[FINFAN]

Hi Tiffanny,
Yes, you would think that all the schools should follow the same criteria, yet they each have their choice on how to reward or discipline during each day. I.E., my sons school uses a card system. 3 color coded cards sit on each childs desk and if the child has done something that the teacher does not deem appropriate or isn't focusing, or just hasn't pleased her enough the child must stand up and take the first card off their desk and place it on the teachers desk and apologize to the class for whatever they have done wrong. I have yet to hear/see anything being done for a job well done or for doing their best etc. Not just for DS, but for any student in his class. At the school in our old neighborhood, children earn paper "french-fries" for positive behavior, helping another student, creative thinking, good role model, focusing on work etc. if a child is behaving poorly, they are to write on a piece of paper their thoughts on that and give it to the teacher after class, so she can discuss it with him and help the child understand how to avoid the problem in the future. Seems a little more humane to me. And funny thing, the french -fry box always is full at the end of the day... for which the whole class recieves an extra recess or movie time...what ever the teacher chooses....as to DS class where the cards are all pulled by the end of the day. I have a friend who teaches old neighborhood school so this is how I have the info to compare the 2, I have also been in touch with the principal who has verified how the program works and that it is successful. This is just one of many things I am trying to discuss in the meeting

 

[AirForceRocks]

Our school does something similar with the cards. But for every day that no card gets turned in, the student gets a ticket. After 5 tickets, the child gets to take something out of the "Mystery Box" at the front of the class.

I like our system, because it acknowledges both good and bad behavior.

 

[patsal]

Hi Finfan,
I'm not sure what state you are from, but check into the state education laws concerning your request. In NYS when you ask to be tested and for follow through they have a very short peoriod of time to react. Kudos to you for going through private testing--here they test first and then always recommend that you take your child for independent testing, so I'd say you are just on par with what you should be doing. Be firm, but insistant--every five weeks that passes is a half of a marking period--the end of January you will be somewhere around half way through the school year. If you could meet say this week you may be able to salvage the second marking period, but if you wait until January you've lost half of the school year. If all else fails just mention that you will be following up with your lawyer--you might find that speeds things up and you won't have to follow through with the threat. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Tiffany]

Thanks for the info FINFAN. It will be interesting to see what they say about the different policies within the same school district. Hope all works out well for you.