Friday, April 18, 2008

JUST CRAP

There is so much crap going on in my life this last week, it's just draining to even really get into the whole nitty gritty of it all. First though, I'll answer the previous question about the business everyone wants to know about.

I am looking to start a business in home design, specifically children rooms and nurseries. I have my first "client" coming next Wednesday to discuss ideas... she has two rooms for me to do. I'm excited about it, unfortunately crap this week is really put a damper on that excitement.

On Tuesday I got a call from the girl's school saying there was an issue for funding for Kierra's educational needs for the next school year. They said that the Board of Education (BE) would only give funding if the girls were at their designated school (which is in a crap part of town, no thank-you!). This is why we had them released from this school, so they could register at this one. In fact, Karis is also registered to attend Kindergarten this Fall. The principal wants me to drive to the school every day to monitor Kierra during the lunch hour, and volunteer every day. So essentially sit at school all day and babysit my child. I told her I have Karis still at home (half days, she's registered for Kindergarten this Fall there), and that I can't be at the school. She suggested I hire a nanny to watch Karis... and then said I could hire a nanny to volunteer at the school instead. SAY WHAT? I asked if this could be solved by us hiring our own aide, to which she said no, we can't do that. The school can only hire aides, but it's not in their budget to do so.

The next day I get another call saying I have to withdraw all three of my children from this school because they will not use their budget for Kierra's needs. I needed to register them at their designated school. First off, why are you kicking out all three? Second, why on earth did this just become an issue now? They KNEW this obviously beforehand. The BE did their own eval last spring for Kierra, determined she could be intergrated into a normal school, and that she could attend this school. Now they don't want to fund her education? She had provincial PUF funding, but that ends at six years old (this June). They never told us that there would't be funding after Kindergarten. In fact I didn't even know of this little tidbit until AFTER she kicked my kids out. I know that she had her mind made up the day before, she was just called me as a guise so it didn't totally come out of left field. She prattled on and on, and I told her I had to go, because I was upset and couldn't finish this conversation right then. Hung up and basically bawled my face off.

Needless to say I've been a wreck. I can't sleep, I'm stressed to the point I'm physically ill, and losing weight (this isn't actually a bad thing). As of this morning, we sent a letter to the school, asking for all these facts to be responded to by writing, sent a copy to the Trustee of the Board of Education, two MLA's, the Superintendant of the school, and the Director. If this doesn't work, we'll be going to the press and contacting the Canadian Society for Autism.

We want to know why they would accept a child out of their designated area, with full disclosure of her autism diagnosis if they weren't prepared to take care of her educational needs? It's not like they didn't know. We want to know why they won't transfer this funding (or if she even asked if it could be done)? We want to know why the other two are being asked to leave, and if other children that are not part of this district are being asked to leave as well? I know they aren't because our neighbor's son goes to the same school. In fact, they opened their doors to other undesignated districts because of low enrollment rates, and that they were at risky for being shut down. I want to know how they can use a loophole to basically turn my child away from a school she loves and excels at? If any of you can answer this, I'd love to hear it. But honestly, anyone that could rationalize this to me is basically as ignorant as the people I'm dealing with right now.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness. That sounds heinous and frustrating and awful. Unbelievable really.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Denying all three of your kids - one with special needs - while allowing other kids from the same district? I don't know how it works in Canada, but down here, that would be one gigantic lawsuit.

I hope you get it all resolved. It's so frustrating to deal with stupid people - especially when your kids might suffer as a result.

Mrs. Schmitty said...

I hope things get better. Good luck with your business venture!

Anonymous said...

My son has an Educational Assistant as well, for spectrum type issues, and it's a year to year thing. I think it sucks. You know as well as I do what happens when our kids don't have some one to keep them on track and safe. They get swept under the rug. We were told to push the safety issue. They don't want the liability of having your child get lost or hurt. Play it up good. Seriously. They don't care about her ability to complete the academic portion of her education. They will care if they have a lawsuit because they lose your daughter. I feel for you. I will be a basket case if my son gets denied his help next week. You just want her to have equal opportunity to learn. She deserves that.

Scatteredmom said...

Oh my GOD.

I live in BC and our school act must be different from Alberta's...but wow, I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this.

The only thing that I can think of doing is to find the Alberta School Act and see what your rights are, and get a lawyer involved if you have to. It sounds very odd to me that they wouldn't get funding for a diagnosed autistic child, AND especially that they would make the siblings leave the school as well.

Don't back down! I know they are a huge and seemingly scary system, but you have rights. They just don't count on parents knowing and pushing for it.

Noemi said...

Yup, I am with Jenny! Here in the States that would be an door wide open for a lawsuit! I hope things get better and you can have this resolved soon.

Hugs...

Pendullum said...

I know your pain....
It is amazing that the education system everywhere seems to be in tatters....
and amazing how they try and throw us off balance....

Fight....

Anonymous said...

That really sucks! How horrible and stressful! I am so sorry!

Preppy Pink Crocodile said...

Oh My Goodness! I can't belive your story!! I hate to see you go through it, but going to the press might be the only way to solve this. Good luck!!

Noemi said...

Hey just wanted to stop by and say HI!

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for what you are going through. My oldest is only 3 so I have yeat to deal with the educ. system. COngrats on your new business and it must be hard to focus on that right now but I am sure you will do great. Look forward to seeing some pictures of the finished products...I love decorating kids rooms