My Son No longer Feels Safe at His High School with Weeks Left Until Graduation. Please HELP!
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Anonymous
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OP here----without trying to give away to many self-identifying details please read below and offer your best advice. Thank you.
My son was falsely accused by another student of taking that student's cellphone. However, when the school's administration checked his person and locker, they did not find the property of the aforementioned student. My son DOES NOT engage in theft in any capacity and is an honor roll student (although he has an ISP). My son would not have any reason to steal. The school's admin son thought issue was settled however as my son was on his way home. The student whom accused my son of stealing his property called up a few friends and they chased my son to the metro. Luckily, the metro station manager was able to get a handle on the situation. DS called DH and I pretty badily shaken as he was afraid that he barely escaped a life-threatening situation. DH and I filed a police report and went in person to the school to try to resolve the situation. The administrators have told me that theur hands are tied as graudation is a few weeks away for all parties and that DS "would have to tough it out". DH and I were flabbergasted, upset and frankly we believe the school is in violation of federal education laws. DH and I requested that DS be allowed to complete the rest of his semester's work from home because of the safety issue. My son doesn't want to go back to school because he doesn't feel safe. Even though we can afford an Uber every day ---it would be both costly and not necessarily effectively a safe guarentee because he would see the other student in school. I am going to reach out to the charter school board's student advocate office but I am unsure if they will be able to force the hand of the school to allow DS to complete the rest of the year from home. Up until now, we have always felt relatively safe at the school and have loved the school. Please help me word a strongly drafted email to the charter board of education and/or the student adovcate office. I am very distraught. Thank you. |
Anonymous
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OP here, I am so sorry for the badly misspelled words and horrible grammar. I am still very shaken and I am incredibly emotional right now.
Please excuse any typos. |
Anonymous
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Is he going to college?
I’m just wondering if his GPA could handle just not going back. Maybe that’s terrible advice, but I believe you. You should be afraid for your son |
Anonymous
| No advice, OP, but this is DEVASTATING. Good that you are protecting your son from the animals at his school. Good that people here can see what’s going on. |
Anonymous
| Maybe a TRO? |
Anonymous
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1) Call the Office of the Ombudsman at the State Board of Education. They handle dispute resolution between families and schools -- both charters and DCPS.
https://sboe.dc.gov/page/office-of-the-ombudsman-for-public-education 2) Call AJE which provides free or low-cost legal representation to parents http://www.aje-dc.org/ |
Anonymous
| I’d consult a lawyer tomorrow first thing. That response by the administrators is ridiculous. |
Anonymous
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You are a gem, 21:30, for providing those links for OP.
Thank you. |
Anonymous
Thank you for your helpful advice. I really appreciate it. |
Anonymous
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What is it that is making everyone believe your son stole the cellphone.
If he’s in danger, you are right to take precautions. Good luck. |
Anonymous
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OP, sorry this happened to your son and that you all have to deal with this.
A couple of specific suggestions for what you can ask/advocate (outside of calling PCSB or Office of the Student Advocate)... 1) Ask the administration if they can host a mediation with the parties involved and have parents present to quash the issue. Be clear that you would like to have both students and parents attend the mediation 2) If you feel it is necessary or warranted, ask that the mediation be hosted by a MPD School Resource Officer 3) Monitor social media- if there is any pattern of bullying or continued harassment, ask the administration for the involvement of the Bullying Coordinator (there are very specific laws about this area and the school must have one) 4) If any threats or harassment persist, seek a protective order from DC Court. A formal stay-away will require the school to change student schedules, limit student contact, and you have something to fall back on if the student continues or the school does not do anything to assist) 5) In addition to engaging the PCSB, you could email someone on the board for your school- the members should be posted online and contact info for at least one of the members should be in the handbook. Though you may have to dig Again, sorry that this is happening and hope this is helpful in some small way. |
Anonymous
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Good luck tomorrow, OP, with tackling this.
Please give your boy extra hugs from us here. Glad he’s safe. |
Anonymous
| Good luck, OP, and I’m sorry your family is going through this. I hope some suggestions here are helpful. |
Anonymous
OP here, the student and his friends were yelling threatening and volatile epithets at my son whiie chasing him. My son was incredibly shaken and the station manager was able to provide details to the responding MPD police officer. I hardly think both my son and the station manager would make up a fictitious story. |
Anonymous
Thank you. |