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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Can someone please summarize what exactly happened? Thank you in advance.[/quote]

Ellis Lariviere, a 13 year old, 8th grade student, committed suicide in May 2021, roughly 3 months after leaving/being counseled out/dismissed from St. Ann's.

Ellis' academic difficulties surfaced in 2nd grade, St. Ann's recommended an evaluation, and immediately into his 3rd grade year, the school/HOS suggested that Ellis' parents look into other schools to meet his needs (ADD and dyslexia diagnosis) because St. Ann's could not. Ellis was allowed to return for 4th grade and maintained enrollment, based on the advice of the neuropsychologist/evaluator.

Fast forward five years, Ellis is counseled out/denied a 9th grade seat, was devastated to be out of the school, and subsequently took his own life.

As of April 2023, the parents are suing the school for their son's death because they believe the school’s policies directly led to their son’s death. Ellis' grandfather, chairman of a major real estate developer, has also joined forces. The HOS resigned at the end of the 22-23 school year.[/quote]

Why was he he denied enrollment?  Was he haring / disturbing other kids?  Did he fail out? [/quote]

According to the article, "Ellis had never been asked to repeat a class or been disciplined for behavioral issues. There was no grading structure in which he had failed. His midyear reports from eighth grade note his problems with writing and organization, but also his progress, and they praise him for his creative thinking and contributions to his classes."[/quote]

So we don't know the actual reason he was kicked out?  (Not be offered to come back to the school you've attended for many years is the same imo as being kicked out)[/quote]

Correct, we don't. I think they finally put their foot down on what they felt was best? The parents may have felt he wouldn't be served anywhere else, wouldn't be accepted anywhere else, didn't want to deal with the application process? Staying for another 5 years is extreme. There was so much time to gradually wean him away from the school and get him excited for other avenues. But again, we dont know all the intricacies. They probably believed they knew their son best.

I think parents tend to get caught up in that trope. Yes, we may know our children best, but the school/HOS knows the school best and when they say you should go, it's time to go. Let go of your love/obsession with whatever hang-up you have to stay. They know better than anyone what is/may be coming down the pipeline. I've seen this before.[/quote]

Parents stated that they wanted to keep their son in the school because older brother went there, the boy had all his friends there, and he wouldn't be able to handle the rough & tumble of NYC public schools. I get it - this kid would've been eaten alive in a NYC public school, even if they are legally obligated to provide therapy services. The parents were paying out-of-pocket for therapies, were willing to pay for more therapies in-school. Money wasn't an issue for this family.

A kid with ASD and dyslexia needs stability, routine, and familiarity. The family believed they had a K-12 solution for their kid, given St Ann's reputation and own marketing material as an artsy touchy-feely school for children who are more into the arts or literature than STEM gunning.

The school f#cked up big time by not living up to its stated values. The parents screwed up by insisting they stay in Brooklyn and deal with cut-throat NYC schools instead of moving to Connecticut or Westchester to find a more relaxed environment for their kids. [/quote]

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