~*~*~
The caller ID showed the call was coming from the middle school. My heart started beating a little faster and I hesitated before picking it up. These aren't usually good calls.
"Dana, I need you to come to my office now."
It was the principal. No explanation. No indication of what happened. Just the demand.
The school is just minutes from where I work. In fact, It probably takes me longer to shut down my computer system and get to my car than it takes to actually drive to the school. When I rounded the corner, I half expected to see at least one squad car in the parking lot. I knew this was serious - I had never received a call quite like that one.
No police in the parking lot. Whew! I start thinking I may have over-reacted or misread the phone call. Maybe ...
... or not. After talking to the principal for a bit (Cam was beyond frustrated and had COMPLETELY shut down. When I walked in the door he was curled up in a chair with his sweatshirt drawn up completely over his head) I learned that Cam had made a threat against the school. This wasn't just bad, this was really bad.
This week the entire school is participating in the Illinois Standard Achievement Tests (ISATs). This is a BIG deal - not for the kids (although the school certainly positions it that way) but for the school. ISATs are how the government determines if a school is making adequate yearly progress (AYP). Cam's school did not make AYP last year.
All of the IEP and 504 kids are segregated during ISATs. They are placed in a room monitored solely by SpecEd staff. The teacher's own written representation of the events indicates she escalated the situation, but Cam's response was completely inappropriate.
All classes in Cam's middle school operate on a three strike rule. Any time any child is acting up they are given a verbal warning explaining what the unacceptable behavior is and told, "This is strike one." If another event occurs, the same process is repeated ending in "This is strike two." If there is a third occurrence, it becomes strike three and the student is sent from the classroom to the office.
According to both Cam and the SpecEd teacher, Cam was talking in class and given strike one. According to the teacher, Cam was given several "cues" that should have (the favorite phrase of the school) indicated he was receiving strike two, however she never said "strike two," instead she demanded Cam leave the room immediately.
Now, for a neuro-typical kid, this wouldn't be an issue. Sure, the student would complain it was unfair and might even say, "This isn't fair" before walking out of the class and heading to the office. For a kid on the autism spectrum this is melt-down material ... and that is EXACTLY what happened.
I don't want this to sound like I am absolving Cam of any responsibility for what happened. Cam chose the words (something along the lines of "If I had guns and detonation packs, this school would be gone") and the words were completely unacceptable. Thinking them is one thing - professing them to a class full of 8th graders is beyond unacceptable.
That said, there is absolutely no reason this situation should have gotten to where it did. The SpecEd teacher handled it completely wrong for a spectrum kid - in fact, for any kid. She changed the rules without letting Cam know (strike one), she engaged Cam in an argument in front of his peers (strike two) and she criticized him publicly (strike three - you're outa here).
Of course, there is a policy in place for this type of threat. We live in a society where kids don't just say these things, they do them. This is a place where zero tolerance really does make sense and I knew the punishment would be serious - possibly expel-able.
The principal brought in the school social worker who explained the process. Cam would need to complete a "risk of harm" evaluation at one of two behavioral health units in the area. The school district would cover the cost of the "risk of harm" evaluation, however I would need to cover any treatment recommended.
She gave me the paperwork and sent us on our way. At this point, I had no idea what the repercussions would be for Cam. Would this be a suspension or would he be expelled from school?
We spent four hours at the assessment. They determined Cam did not pose an imminent threat to himself or to others. They recommended the following:
The good news is their recommendation is exactly what I was already doing - what the school knew I was doing - and the assessor indicated she was certain this was a frustrated reaction to a situational event, not an indication of a planned assault on the school.
Yesterday I learned Cam's "official" school punishment is a 10-day suspension, reduced to 5 days after completion of the "risk of harm" assessment.
I talked to my employer yesterday and they are allowing me to work 1/2 days (8:30 - 12:30) through the end of next week, taking "unplanned" vacation for the other 4 hours (company policy is we can take vacation only in 8-hour increments and must give 2-weeks notice of intent to take vacation).
My greatest concern now is sending Cam back to school next Wednesday - not because I am concerned about the safety of others in the school (for the record, Cam does not have access to guns or a detonation pack - I even searched his room to be certain), but because I am concerned about Cam's safety.
I need to find out what my options are - if there is any way I can get Cam through the 8th grade without subjecting him to what really has become a "hostile" learning environment. I don't want to send him back. I believe Cam's current school environment is increasing his behavioral issues. It's a mess for everyone.
WWBD (What would bloggers do)?
The caller ID showed the call was coming from the middle school. My heart started beating a little faster and I hesitated before picking it up. These aren't usually good calls."Dana, I need you to come to my office now."
It was the principal. No explanation. No indication of what happened. Just the demand.
The school is just minutes from where I work. In fact, It probably takes me longer to shut down my computer system and get to my car than it takes to actually drive to the school. When I rounded the corner, I half expected to see at least one squad car in the parking lot. I knew this was serious - I had never received a call quite like that one.
No police in the parking lot. Whew! I start thinking I may have over-reacted or misread the phone call. Maybe ...
... or not. After talking to the principal for a bit (Cam was beyond frustrated and had COMPLETELY shut down. When I walked in the door he was curled up in a chair with his sweatshirt drawn up completely over his head) I learned that Cam had made a threat against the school. This wasn't just bad, this was really bad.
This week the entire school is participating in the Illinois Standard Achievement Tests (ISATs). This is a BIG deal - not for the kids (although the school certainly positions it that way) but for the school. ISATs are how the government determines if a school is making adequate yearly progress (AYP). Cam's school did not make AYP last year.
All of the IEP and 504 kids are segregated during ISATs. They are placed in a room monitored solely by SpecEd staff. The teacher's own written representation of the events indicates she escalated the situation, but Cam's response was completely inappropriate.
All classes in Cam's middle school operate on a three strike rule. Any time any child is acting up they are given a verbal warning explaining what the unacceptable behavior is and told, "This is strike one." If another event occurs, the same process is repeated ending in "This is strike two." If there is a third occurrence, it becomes strike three and the student is sent from the classroom to the office.
According to both Cam and the SpecEd teacher, Cam was talking in class and given strike one. According to the teacher, Cam was given several "cues" that should have (the favorite phrase of the school) indicated he was receiving strike two, however she never said "strike two," instead she demanded Cam leave the room immediately.
Now, for a neuro-typical kid, this wouldn't be an issue. Sure, the student would complain it was unfair and might even say, "This isn't fair" before walking out of the class and heading to the office. For a kid on the autism spectrum this is melt-down material ... and that is EXACTLY what happened.
I don't want this to sound like I am absolving Cam of any responsibility for what happened. Cam chose the words (something along the lines of "If I had guns and detonation packs, this school would be gone") and the words were completely unacceptable. Thinking them is one thing - professing them to a class full of 8th graders is beyond unacceptable.
That said, there is absolutely no reason this situation should have gotten to where it did. The SpecEd teacher handled it completely wrong for a spectrum kid - in fact, for any kid. She changed the rules without letting Cam know (strike one), she engaged Cam in an argument in front of his peers (strike two) and she criticized him publicly (strike three - you're outa here).
Of course, there is a policy in place for this type of threat. We live in a society where kids don't just say these things, they do them. This is a place where zero tolerance really does make sense and I knew the punishment would be serious - possibly expel-able.
The principal brought in the school social worker who explained the process. Cam would need to complete a "risk of harm" evaluation at one of two behavioral health units in the area. The school district would cover the cost of the "risk of harm" evaluation, however I would need to cover any treatment recommended.
She gave me the paperwork and sent us on our way. At this point, I had no idea what the repercussions would be for Cam. Would this be a suspension or would he be expelled from school?
We spent four hours at the assessment. They determined Cam did not pose an imminent threat to himself or to others. They recommended the following:
FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEUROPSYCH (I scheduled this appointment weeks ago) ON 3/8. FOLLOW UP WITH OUTPATIENT COUNSELING AS WELL AS A MEDICATION EVALUATION WITH A PSYCHIATRIST.
The good news is their recommendation is exactly what I was already doing - what the school knew I was doing - and the assessor indicated she was certain this was a frustrated reaction to a situational event, not an indication of a planned assault on the school.
Yesterday I learned Cam's "official" school punishment is a 10-day suspension, reduced to 5 days after completion of the "risk of harm" assessment.
I talked to my employer yesterday and they are allowing me to work 1/2 days (8:30 - 12:30) through the end of next week, taking "unplanned" vacation for the other 4 hours (company policy is we can take vacation only in 8-hour increments and must give 2-weeks notice of intent to take vacation).
My greatest concern now is sending Cam back to school next Wednesday - not because I am concerned about the safety of others in the school (for the record, Cam does not have access to guns or a detonation pack - I even searched his room to be certain), but because I am concerned about Cam's safety.
I need to find out what my options are - if there is any way I can get Cam through the 8th grade without subjecting him to what really has become a "hostile" learning environment. I don't want to send him back. I believe Cam's current school environment is increasing his behavioral issues. It's a mess for everyone.
WWBD (What would bloggers do)?
~*~*~
25 comments:
Shit...Well at least he's not in legal trouble as it were or immediately expelled leaving you to find something right now.
I don't know what to tell you. So I am not going to pretend to.
I'll just say best of luck to you both. Sorry Dana, but I'm sure that you'll (or someone else) find a way to get Cam and yourself through the rest of the school year. Good Luck, and Cheers!!
Hmmmm... I wonder how & why the school came up with that "3 strikes" policy. 30 years ago, when I managed Kentucky's first group home for adolescents who were back then labeled as "emotionally disturbed." a term that included way too much, we learned quickly that the 3 stikes warning peocedure was primarily an invitation for the child to escalate. It was rather like drawing a line on the floor and saying "don't step over this line," which is a hell-of-challange to any adolescent, much less one with special needs. If I were to advise the school, I'd suggest that they re-evaluate that policy.
morethanwords.typepad.com blogs about her 2 daughters that have some serious mental health issues. she had to fight for help for her children. i know cam's issues are like her daughters but she learned how to get her school system to help through IEPs. she lives in california, but she might be able to give you ideas to try.
What is the school district's policy on home instruction? It seems that both Cam and the school should take a break from one another. I am certainly not thinking that Cam would do anything harmful to the school, but if I were a parent of another student and I heard that threat, I'd be more than uneasy.
I would actually think something like that would call for automatic expulsion.
My step son IQ is Autistic. This past year he has become very violent. He was enrolled at (we will call this here)School A which was a typical grade school with typical resources.
It had gotten so bad that the decision and his IEP paperwork relocated him to "School B" which specializes in Autistic education and other Special Ed students.
My wife saw this as a huge step backwards for IQ. I did not. In fact, I saw this as a huge step forward because now IQ is going to a school that has the resources to meet his needs.
If there is any such school for Cam in your area, I would highly recommend it. Being on the Autistic spectrum does not mean that children are not equipped to handle things...it just means that they think different. Its up to us to find the resources for them. It should not be up to them to conform to the rest of the world's standards.
Just my 2 cents.
Matt-Man, Shit pretty well sums it up! And yes, I've reminded myself dozens of times this could have been much worse.
Sometimes Saintly Nick, good to see you chime in on this Nick! I have learned there is very little this school does that is "logical" Cam's recent experience paints a very real picture of exactly what you mention - he *knew* he could escalate his behavior to earn the second strike, and when that second strike didn't happen, the results were disastrous.
Jen, thanks for the reference - I will definitely go check her out!
Karen, what I am hoping is that I can get them to provide a tutor and allow Cam to attend PE and Band at the school. I can home school him - removing Cam from the school to a home school placement is fairly easy - but Illinois' home-school laws don't require public schools to work with home-schoolers to provide "enrichment" (i.e. PE, band, etc.) That discretion is purely discretionary.
One of my first questions to the principal was if Cam's actions were an expellable offense - I thought they would be. His answer was "maybe." Because Cam's threat was an "If I had ..." rather than an "I'm going to ...", and because the situation was not handled properly by the SpecEd teacher, the disciplinary review board decided on the 10-day (reduced to 5 days) suspension.
I was not at all resistant to the requirement for the "risk of harm" assessment because, like you, I would be EXTREMELY concerned if a child in Cam's school said what Cam said. I do not take his words lightly. I will not excuse his behavior. He was wrong.
Joker_SATX, one of the things that is currently on the table is an alternate placement for Cam. In fact, that is why the neuropsych eval had been scheduled weeks ago. Our district does not have a program specifically addressing kids on the autism spectrum. What they have is an BD/ED program where they "warehouse" SpecEd students who don't do well in the "supported" classrooms.
I am not opposed to an alternate placement for Cam. It's pretty clear he is not able to succeed where he is. But I want it to be the CORRECT placement. The BD/ED program is a "catch-all" and houses kids with severe mental health issues (bi-polar, schizophrenic, etc.) as well as kids significant behavior issues like Oppositional Defiance Disorder. Because of the social skills issues with kids on the spectrum, a placement like this can be down right dangerous.
I am hoping to get the district to pay for a private school placement for Cam - a private school that specialized in "these types" of kids.
You may have figured out by the way I reached out to you after it happened that I think the school may not be equipped to deal with Cam, although more to the point, I think they don't want to be bothered.
I do understand what Nick is saying, and I agree with him. But education professionals should know that if you do implement a structure, deviating from it is bad for any child, but with an Autism spectrum kid is disastrous.
How does Cam feel about going back? Is there any one on the teaching staff he appreciates and trusts? Maybe you could enlist them as counsel.
I know you'll bring this up when you meet the specialist, hopefully they'll assist you with the proper resources.
Godspeed my friend. *hug*
Is Cam seeing a therapist or counselor at all. I know he is special needs but he has also been through quite a bit these past few years. I know when my parents divorced, I lashed out and that was without the added challenges that Cam has. In Missouri we have a non-profit called Youth In Need that provides counseling on a sliding scale for kids. I know Cam has special needs but he is also just a normal kid going through a really rough time. Just a suggestion. Sendning you positive vibes.
Wow... I really have no options for you that have not already been put on the table.
Home-schooling is certainly an option, but how does it impact your work? Your situation now is such that your losing your job would be disastrous, and I am sure you can not continue to work half days.
I would seriously think about a move to another school district...it is a serious decision, but one that might have to be made.
Cam also has to be made to understand that society does not allow such comments.
Is the SpecEd teacher being disciplined? They should be for their actions in this situation.
Shit. This situation SUCKS. You are so right about the SpEd teacher. He needs to be in a building with people who know how to handle kids with Asperger's. If he had an Educational Autism diagnosis, you would have to prove that his behaviors are NOT related to his disability if he got a suspension like that. Granted, that might not be the case with the threats due to Safe Schools Act, but still. Grrrr. I wish you had a better advocate or a lawyer. This is a crappy situation all around. I am thinking of you.
Lawyer!
Wow! You've gotten a lot of great advice already. Is there another school nearby to do a transfer?
Oh Dana, I'm so sorry. You'd think that if the school couldn't make things better they'd at least aim to not make things worse. But they can't even do that! :(
Here they don't just give you a tutor, but they actually give you a fully certified teacher for home instruction. Though I believe a parent/guardian has to be present at the home during instruction, the teacher teaches and makes the curriculum. It differs from "home schooling" because the child is still fully part of the school system. They just cannot learn within the confines of the school for whatever reason. It is used often used for kids who are too ill to go to school, but I think it is also used for behavioral issues also.
I know you will find the best solution for Cam.
Anndi, Cam seems oblivious to my concerns about him going back. I do know that - for the first time - he has made it clear that leaving his current school wouldn't be a bad thing. He does have one teacher in the school who seems to "get" him, but I'm afraid the politics of the situation will keep her from getting involved.
Little T, Cam has been seeing a counselor for over two years now although recently we took a little bit of a break. I'll be talking to the neuropsych about referrals for counselors who specialize in adolescents.
Bond, I understand the need to get Cam to acknowledge that these types of comments are not allowed by society, however the neurological component of the autism doesn't give him the ability to do that. This isn't a won't issue, but a can't issue. I wish it were as easy as enlightening him of the appropriate outlet.
Gina, I received the suspension paperwork today and will be requesting a formal hearing to appeal the suspension. I need to insure that this never happens again - not to Cam - not to any other kid.
we're doomed, I'm putting together a list of educational attorneys now. I'll be making calls tomorrow.
Evil Twin's Wife, Illinois does NOT have open enrollment. I have to secure authorization from the district to move him out of this school unless I am moving him to a private school or homeschooling.
Maggie, they couldn't be any more clear with their actions. It makes me sick.
Karen, I've heard of this for kids who are home bound for illness and/or injury. I'll have to see if it's available for Cam's situation.
I'm not one for advice because genuinely I don't know what you should do.
What I would probably do is try and find another school for my child. I know you're in a more rural part of the state than I am, so that's not exactly a cakewalk.
I wish you both peace.
I don't have any ideas for you either Dana. I am not a parent so don't know the school systems and their workings. Just know I am praying all works out.
pack it in, quit my job and move me and my child to a place where I would have emotional support.
oh and went through this very thing in the 8th grade. My kiddo said he had a ticking clock in his locker or backpack and the school turned that into a bomb threat. My kid, NLD you know. said he never said the word bomb so how could they make that connection. he missed a week of school including honors dinner that he had worked so hard to attend. It never got any better.
Aunt Becky, I definitely *must* get him out of this school. The question is where do I go.
Lu', I pretty sure it's like navigating the IRS. Got any experience there?
dlk24, this is an option I've been considering. Just when I thought I couldn't lose anything else, I now realize there is even more to lose ... and it's slipping right through my fingers.
I do think you need to explore what legal options you have in this case. I mean, he has an IEP. It isn't being followed. Couple that with the fact that those who are supposedly trained for these types of students are not reacting to the situation appropriately - and you really need to know your rights at this point.
I don't blame you for not wanting him shipped off to the other school. I watched too many kids who were smart but had educational needs get marginalized in my rural school versus helped. It does no one any good - especially the kid.
Good luck to you & hugs!
~Emmy
Dana,
A slightly off-the-wall idea: Does Cam get exposure at home to news articles about students at school with zero-tolerance and similar issues? Do you think it would be useful to sit with him calmly, one-on-one, and review these stories so that he can get a perspective of it from the school's POV? Does he understand that his situation is not isolated and that it is part of a much, much larger [blanking, can't think of the right word, it's late...]? It might help him to understand why this sort of thing happens, not just to him but to anyone in any other school program that uses the kind of language he did. It might enable him to predict the consequences and thus prevent the provoking action. And since, as you have described earlier, Cam is especially sensitive to the underdog and other kids in trouble, he might even get to where he sees classmates wading into the swamp and guide them out. That would do a lot for his self-esteem, I'll bet.
...Past my bedtime; hope all of this works out for you. Like Bond said, this impacts you as well, so you need to step carefully.
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