Emotions run high at Charlo School Board meeting
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CHARLO — During the public comment portion of the Charlo School Board meeting on Tuesday, May 17, Terry and Kasey Rosenbaum voiced their concerns about the steps taken after a Feb. 4 incident involving their son and his medical needs.
“Jase did not receive life-saving medication until three hours after a sign of adrenal crisis was shown and brought to the schools’ attention,” Kasey Rosenbaum said. “Jase could have gone unconscious, gone into shock, and worst of all, died on school grounds.”
The Rosenbaums said their son, who is affected with muscular dystrophy, has missed “close to 30 school days,” because they feel that the school is not providing a safe environment for him.
OPI’s Special Education Division has responsibility for assuring that children with disabilities receive an appropriate education.
Superintendent Steve Love has directed the family to take their concern to the state level with Office of Public Instruction. “Any parent with a child who has special needs gets a list of procedural safeguards that list those rights and avenues for a recourse … like filing complaints,” Love said in a followup interview. “The parents that were at that meeting have those same opportunities.”
OPI has lawyers and people who have been working in special education for many years, according to Love.
“OPI comes down on the school if OPI thinks we are doing something wrong,” Love said. “If not, OPI tells the parents that the school is compliant.”
The family continued to express their concerns about all kids’ safety at the school.
“You are responsible to make sure that the promises you made to our family were followed through,” supportive family member Cari Rosenbaum said. “Obviously, you have dropped the ball in regards to the safety of our children.”
The family has no intention in taking their son to another school because they believe Jase should be able to attend Charlo.
“Jase has a limited life span,” Terry Rosenbaum said in a followup interview. “School is everything he has. It is where he has his friends and where he socializes.”
The Rosenbaum family intends on appealing the school’s findings to the County Superintendent.
“It is not that the school can’t provide a safe place, it is that they are not admitting they made a mistake,” Terry Rosenbaum said.
Although Love would not comment on the Feb 4 incident due to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, he did say that emotions run high when parents and school officials disagree.
“There’s always two sides to a story,” Love said. “They have a perspective that they say is true and the school has theirs.”
Other important items discussed during the meeting were K-12 Principal Bonnie Perry’s contract and the reorganization of positions amongst School Board members. Perry’s three percent pay raise was approved during the meeting. Former Chairman Shane Reum, did not seek reelection and the board decided that Art Soukkala would take over as new Chairman. Due to reorganization, the board declared a vacancy and has 60 days for someone to fill the position. Those interested can drop off a letter to the Charlo District office by June 14.
