Scared & need your thoughts -DD is getting notes

[Steamboat Marti]

Just found out this morning that the Principal is leaving our school at X'mas

YEAH WHOOOO!!!

(Karen is doing a happy dance)

This explains a little more to me. My dad was a principal and I can assure you, that if this principal is leaving and it is NOT based on this particular set of instances, then the school district has either 1) known this for a long time or 2)was instrumental in having her ousted, using this set of instances as the final straw.

When my dad retired, he gave MORE than a year's notice. Also, in the states, as far as I know you can't be fired from being a principal unless you have done something GROSSLY wrong (a crime) or hitting a student. Is it the same in Canada? Are teachers and principals protected by tenure??

 

[luvmyfam444]

Do you not have a school handbook that spells out the disciplinary actions for things such as bullying/tardies, etc?

 

[Tantor]

This explains a little more to me. My dad was a principal and I can assure you, that if this principal is leaving and it is NOT based on this particular set of instances, then the school district has either 1) known this for a long time or 2)was instrumental in having her ousted, using this set of instances as the final straw.

When my dad retired, he gave MORE than a year's notice. Also, in the states, as far as I know you can't be fired from being a principal unless you have done something GROSSLY wrong (a crime) or hitting a student. Is it the same in Canada? Are teachers and principals protected by tenure??

She is going to another school but is not happy about it. She put in for a new school but somehow got put on the wrong list and got the next available school that came up. Too bad, so sad....don't let the door hit you on the way out........

I am stiil in the school everyday...........watching

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow, very interesting news about the Principal being moved.


About the punishment, and how it might relate to special-needs.
I recently received a new school handbook, which includes an updated notice on policies for this kind of thing. This is for the U.S. of course.

Basicly, it does NOT guarantee that a special needs child will get off scott free due to their IEP. It does mandate that a child cannot be 'punished' for their disability. For example, if a child cannot read well due to dyslexia, they cannot be punished for not completing reading assignments.

However, for this kind of threatening behavior, any child can be removed from the classroom/school. This can be done automatically, for a period of up to so many days, I think maybe three... The parents do have a right to appeal and to request a meeting. But, the school DOES have the right to remove any child from a classroom if deemed necessary.

The school has a mandate to protect all children. Being special needs does not give a child the right to assault or continually threaten other children.


To the OP, I hope that the school receives an excellent Principal! I too did the happy dance when it was announced that we would be getting a new Principal, beginning this year! I am so glad that the old one left, because he did absolutely NOTHING to help my DS in our situation, and was masterful at the covering-his-own-behind that has been mentioned on this thread.

Just a note. While the new Principal is quite different. I am not so sure that she is any better... But, I have no direct personal complaints yet!

 

[momoftwins]

prayers. Has there been anymore notes? I have two 9 yr olds in 4th grade. I would be freaked too!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I just read this thread, and all I can say is, I pray for a quick resolution to this and safety for your child. Please be sure and let us all know the final outcome. Have there been any additional notes since the school was notified?

 

[Tantor]

There was another note Tuesday on a different child's (girl, Friend of DD) backpack. The principal (she's not looking or talking to me now, how childish) is now looking outside the classroom for the culprtit. Maybe if she listened to us in the first place she wouldn't have put all her effort into the classroom. SHEEESH.
Anyways got some action today Dh had the Trustee and Superintendent call and agreed that it has been handled wrong and has now put more pressure on the Principal. That's probably why she isn't talking to me. They were also aware that I am in the school everyday all day. Interesting. There is a staff meeting tonight at the school. I have a teacher who is a good friend that is keeping me informed.
We shall see what becomes of all this.

 

[staci]

OMG the principal is NOT TALKING TO YOU.

I know this is all very stressful and this is probably a side concern at this point for you, but when this is all over and done with I would be talking to someone about the unprofessionalism at her level. It is her school, your dd's safety is in jeopardy, and she is NOT TALKING TO YOU? Regardless of any personal anger she has toward you, IT IS HER JOB TO DO WHAT SHE CAN TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIROMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS, that includes communicating those efforts to the concerned parents.

I hope this is all over quickly for you

 

[horseshowmom]

OMG the principal is NOT TALKING TO YOU.

I know this is all very stressful and this is probably a side concern at this point for you, but when this is all over and done with I would be talking to someone about the unprofessionalism at her level. It is her school, your dd's safety is in jeopardy, and she is NOT TALKING TO YOU? Regardless of any personal anger she has toward you, IT IS HER JOB TO DO WHAT SHE CAN TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIROMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS, that includes communicating those efforts to the concerned parents.

I hope this is all over quickly for you

The principal needs to get a grip. I wonder if she'd look at it differently if a child actually got attacked by whomever is doing this? This isn't about her, and her feelings should be at the very bottom of the list.

 

[MrsPete]

TONS of kids have classified disabilities in the schools (WAY more than I would have ever thought). I seem to remember something about if a child has a disability, that they cannot be expelled or unfairly punished for a behavior that was due to their disability.

While this sounds nuts, it IS the law. A kid who is labeled BEH, for example, can do just about anything short of setting someone on fire and cannot be expelled. Schools can get these kids out of school only if they document a case against them, but it's hard. I've had administrators say to me specifically, "So-and-so is really causing trouble all over the school; if he does ANYTHING wrong, write him up -- no warnings, no classroom detentions -- write him up so it's documented. If the student does something really, really awful, his case can be taken to the school board and considered for expulsion, but more often than not, it doesn't happen. Rights of the individual . . . It's wrong morally and ethically, but it's the law.

On the other hand, there are certain offenses that are SO BAD that even a kid with a label can be kicked out: drugs, weapons, or bomb threats are examples. In fact, for a bomb threat there's a mandatory fine (I think it's up to 10K per call -- it's huge) and mandatory jail time; I personally know a kid who's in jail right now because of that law.

I'd argue that bullying type offenses are individual and vary widely; as such they should be evaulated on a case-by-case basis. I mean, there's a huge difference between this case and a simple matter of a big boy saying, "Gimme your lunch money."

 

[Tiggeroo]

only an idiot would look at those notes and assume they were written by somebody in your dd's grade. At the very least a child would need help. If there was somebody capable they would be so gifted the list would be very short, in fact a teacher would probably recognize the style.

 

[MrsPete]

This explains a little more to me. My dad was a principal and I can assure you, that if this principal is leaving and it is NOT based on this particular set of instances, then the school district has either 1) known this for a long time or 2)was instrumental in having her ousted, using this set of instances as the final straw.

When my dad retired, he gave MORE than a year's notice. Also, in the states, as far as I know you can't be fired from being a principal unless you have done something GROSSLY wrong (a crime) or hitting a student. Is it the same in Canada? Are teachers and principals protected by tenure??

I don't know. A couple years ago our principal gave us fairly short notice (I'd say it was April) that he woudln't be returning when school began in the fall. Usually principals announce things like that waaaaay ahead of time, and the teachers know who's going to take his place, the new guy shows his face around school as much as possible during his pre-principal year, etc., etc., etc. In our case, our principal was very well loved, so he wasn't being forced out or anything.

Anyway, he specifically asked us NOT to let the students or parents know that he wouldn't be returning the following year. He just wanted to finish out the year in a calm manner. It's possible that the teachers, county office, etc. were aware of your principal's intentions and just hadn't shared them with the "general population".

 

[MrsPete]

Basicly, it does NOT guarantee that a special needs child will get off scott free due to their IEP. It does mandate that a child cannot be 'punished' for their disability. For example, if a child cannot read well due to dyslexia, they cannot be punished for not completing reading assignments.

However, for this kind of threatening behavior, any child can be removed from the classroom/school.

Ah, but MANY kids are diagnosed with BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS -- not academic disorders. So a kid who's labeled BEH, Willie M., or something simliar "can't help himself" from acting out against other kids. (I don't believe that myself -- I'm just telling you what the law says). As such, punishing him for behavioral problems is tricky.

 

[MrsPete]

only an idiot would look at those notes and assume they were written by somebody in your dd's grade. At the very least a child would need help. If there was somebody capable they would be so gifted the list would be very short, in fact a teacher would probably recognize the style.

I stick to my original idea: notes being placed by a grade-school child who's writing them with the help of a disturbed teenaged sibling.

 

[nativetxn]

Tantor, I am still praying for your daughter's safety.

Katholyn

 

[SnowAngel08]

Honestly I would recomend going to the police. They could get the person who could harm your dd. I hope you catch the culpret.

 

[disneymom3]

Ah, but MANY kids are diagnosed with BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS -- not academic disorders. So a kid who's labeled BEH, Willie M., or something simliar "can't help himself" from acting out against other kids. (I don't believe that myself -- I'm just telling you what the law says). As such, punishing him for behavioral problems is tricky.

Not flaming you MrsPete as I know you are just the messenger so to speak, but that is a load of malarky! No wonder our society is so screwed up and adults don't take responsibilies for their actions--the schools start their lives out telling them they don't have to. (And I know the teachers don't make these rules either.) One of the many reasons I homeschool--I refuse to put up with garbage like this.

 

[DisneyPhD]

What seems different in this case then a typical bullying case is your DD has no idea who it is. It sounds like there isn't even rummors around the school. Must bully cases every kid knows about it and there are much more dirtect problems then notes with death threats (not that this isn't enough, but normally it doesn't stop there.) Is there any other way your DD is being picked on or bullyed? Anyone she knows does't like her, even just giving her dirty looks or triping her?

It all seems very strange. Are there any children in the school with the Emotinally Behaver distrubed label? It really doesn't seem like the typical case for that. Most of that is more explosve temper issues, ADHD and problems with authority. This isn't like that at all. It seems very out of place for a elemertry school (in Canada no less.) Much more HS level. Maybe why the school is having such a hard time dealing with it. The crime doesn't fit the environment.

More hugs and prayers your way. I hope it all comes to an end very soon.

 

[damo]

The principal leaving is really nothing out of the ordinary. Principals are generally moved after 4 years here in Ontario, so it could just have been around that time and another school came up.

Glad your trustee is getting things going. Amazingly dedicated people, those trustees.

 

[Tantor]

Honestly I would recomend going to the police. They could get the person who could harm your dd. I hope you catch the culpret.

It has been done already and a police report has been made.

We are getting action from the Trustee.