8 Teachers from Broward & Palm Beach Disciplined ~ For doing some Crazy Crap!

BACKGROUND CHECKS & PROPER TRAINING EVERY YEAR for ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES! ~ MANDATED!

By Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel

7:09 p.m. EST, November 12, 2013

"The state has disciplined eight area teachers and former teachers for incidents that allegedly happened both inside and outside their classrooms." 

Click link below for full article from the Sun-Sentinel. 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-teacher-discipline-state-20131112,0,1967364.story

This is some crazy crap a couple of teachers are 'getting caught at' doing off and on-the-job! What the heck is wrong with some of these people? Are you kidding me?? 

Most of them will continue to do what they do...they get a slap on the wrist for unprofessional behavior and no work ethics! Get rid of them for good if they have proven themselves uncaring and without morals in the treatment of the students and people they are assigned to work with. 

These slaps on the wrist are becoming more common and in the news all too often....especially stories pertaining to abuse of some sort towards students with special learning needs. 

Camera's in ALL CLASSROOMS is maybe something that should be put on the table for discussion. Setting up cameras as a monitoring tool used as SPOT CHECKS of any classroom every now and again or anywhere within the school and work place.  This will help to ensure and document that things are running smoothly on any given day. Cameras could be set up overnight if there is ever a concern for what is taking place within any given area of the school campus. Portable cameras that move around the campus if there is such resistance to having permanent cameras placed and running everyday in certain classrooms. If everyone is doing their job professionally, there should be no worries about what gets captured and recorded on any given day. 

Absolutely camera's are needed in ESE and Special Education Classrooms all day every day! There have been way too many abuse stories going on with our students receiving Special Education and seems the stories are increasing.

If you are concerned for our - YOUR Children at school and your Child maybe more vulnerable to being taken advantage of because of being a student in Special Education, please join the Cameras In Special Needs Classrooms Facebook group that has almost 14,000 members! https://www.facebook.com/CamerasInSpecialNeedsClassrooms

Broward Beat.com ~ Sources: School Board Member Being Probed BY BUDDY NEVINS

Sources: School Board Member Being Probed

BY BUDDY NEVINS

http://www.browardbeat.com/sources-school-board-member-being-probed/

Investigation into California Special Education ~ Denying & Delaying Services is happening across the Country!

Public Schools Delay or Deny Special Education Services for Most Vulnerable Students

NBC NEWS Investigative Report

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Public-Schools-Delay-Deny-Special-Education-Services-231960511.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_BAYBrand

NICHCY no longer being funded by OSEP...WHY?

I went to the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) website this morning and was surprised to see that NICHCY is no longer being funded by U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)

WHY? 
Why would OSEP not want to continue funding this resource for us? 

Be sure to visit the NICHCY website and save some of the resources for future reference. Great resourse for anything and everything pertaining to Individual Education Plans (IEP's)

The site will "be open" until September 30, 2014.

http://nichcy.org/schoolage/iep/iepcontents

*below is the notice I received when I visited the NICHCY website this morning.

NOTICE: The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) is no longer in operation. Our funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) ended on September 30, 2013. 

Our website and all its free resources will remain available until September 30, 2014.

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) has provided information and resources to the nation on disabilities in children and youth for many decades. On September 30, 2013, however, our funding from the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education ended. 


This rich website and all its free resources will remain available until September 30, 2014. We encourage you to explore our website and collect any resources that may assist you in serving children and youth with disabilities. 

*See the New IDEA Website

SURVEY ~ PT & OT ~ ESE Services in Florida Public Schools

Take the Florida PT & OT Survey! 
PT & OT ~ ESE Services in Florida Public Schools

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3DW85N7 
Click here to take survey

Share and Pass this survey on! 
Post it to your FB page and let others know about it.

Thank you,

DS Advocate
http://www.dsadvocate.com/

1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ~ Student with Down syndrome found dead in the 'schools backyard' pond!

RIP Jenny!!!! Your Drowning on a Middle School Campus will not be in vain. Your Drowning in the 'pond' out in the backyard of your school will hopefully help lead the way to ACCOUNTABILITY for the SAFETY & WELL BEING OF ALL CHILDREN and TRAINING of all school staff! Prayers to your family, friends, classmates and teachers today! Click below highlighted link to the Tampa Bay News article:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/school-in-shock-after-riverview-girls-drowning/1257915

I have written several blog posts about Jenny Caballero since her drowning this last year, because Jenny represents students with Down syndrome and Students with Disabilities across the entire State of Florida! TRAINING must take place to keep our children SAFE! 
http://www.ds-advocate.blogspot.com/2013/09/jennifer-caballero-you-drowning-in-pond.html

Parents upset at common core forum's 4PM start time

Parents upset at common core forum's start time
Well at least the State of Florida Department of Education held 3 PUBLIC COMMENT FORUMS across the entire State. 
(*click on highlighted link to play video)

The PUBLIC COMMENT Forum held in Broward County was scheduled at 5PM till 8PM I believe. There were 111 Speakers SIGNED UP to provide PUBLIC COMMENT and our Commissioner of Florida Department of Education stayed till the very last speaker spoke! That was till about 11PM that night! I have to say she was concerned to hear from ALL OF US THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK and I appreciate that. I would have liked to see more than just 3 Public Comment Forums held around the State so that some people didn't have to drive from 4 hours away to attend after a full day of working as one Florida school teacher did.



I know this video is about 'what time' of the day (4PM-6PM) the public comment meeting was being held in Albany, New York. The person in the video said, she feels it's like they really DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PUBLIC HAS TO SAY by the time that it was set for and with only 3 days notice!!!

I have seen over the years...this is how they do things. Short notice, not enough of the meetings being held across the State so people don't have to travel hours to get to a meeting. 

People ~ Educate yourselves on exactly what this COMMON CORE that's being talked about like a wildfire out of control!! It's like a Choo Choo Chooooo Train that is coming to town, so get out of the way!! Coming to a Town near you!!

In FLORIDA ~ Here is a GREAT RESOURCE FACEBOOK PAGE to help educate yourselves on all the hoopla-la on Common Core and why we need to:
STOP COMMON CORE IN FLORIDA!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-Common-Core-in-Florida/516780045031362

I VOTED 4 You! ~ School Board Security Guard told me I wasn't allowed to attend the meeting you held today.

Dear School Board Member for the district/area I live in,

I've been thinking about a situation that happened to me today. This morning I actually had the spare-time to volunteer of my time to attend. I want you to know that when I was greeted by my first name before I was even to the School Board Security Desk this morning, it surprised me. I was there inquiring about the meeting you were having, at first the security guard said what meeting? ...and then said, "I wasn't allowed to attend that meeting." 

She was told, to not allow me access to your meeting.

I voted for you, yet I am not allowed to sit in on a new ESE work-group you've been putting together...not just as a "listener only". Why? 

School Board Member, I VOTED for you and I told my friends to VOTE 4 You too! 

Is it because I REFUSE to give up My Membership and My Voting Rights to the Broward ESE Advisory for Parents in order to be allowed access to your next ESE Work group? 

Why would I turn my back on a group I've attended and have been an active part of for so long? You want members to give up their Membership, ultimately giving up My Voting Rights to our school districts parent led ESE Advisory for the past 13 YEARS!? 

Over the years, my daughter has almost always attended with me, beginning when she was just 2 years old. She was so young, she wasn't even ENROLLED in any Broward Public school yet. Together my daughter and I found ESE Family Support at those ESE Advisory meetings. School Board Member, my daughter has been attending all those meetings along side with me for the past 13 years too...it's been OUR SUPPORT all these years!! 

Today is her 15th Birthday! She announced it at the end of the meeting! *She loves an opportunity to 'self advocate' or public speak. She was so incredibly happy to stand up and announce to the whole room that it would be her 15th Birthday today!

WOW!!! So I VOTE 4 You...yet you won't allow me to attend an ESE Work group you're putting together? Bet you know I have a daughter with Down syndrome and I LIVE in your District. I am one of your district/area families...yes I am one of your constituents in your District! 

I'm not sure what's to be gained or WHO will gain from your 'selective' work group. By only allowing certain people...and 2 of them don't LIVE in 'the neighborhood' even. 

Thought the creation of your work-group meetings was about pulling together your area families and creating a 'ESE Work Group' for and families from the district or area of Broward County that you represent. 

I Voted for you...and you barred me from being a Parent Volunteer to which you were seeking ESE Parents to sit on a New ESE Work group you have put together.

Signed,

Disappointed 4 sure! 

Public vs. Private vs. Charter Schools ~ Great Schools website

Public vs. private vs. charter schools
http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/6987-public-private-charter-schools.gs?page=3

Cute little Video & some good posts in the "comments" after the video. 
In the world of school choice, private schools are a viable option (even when you think it's not).
http://www.greatschools.org/school-choice/private-schools/7068-private-schools-video.gs

Overcomer ~ Mandisa (Lyric Video)

Crank it Up!! You're An Overcomer!!

Jennifer Caballero ~ You drowning in the pond behind Rogers Middle School last October 2012 in Riverview, Florida will not be in vain!

Jennifer Caballero ~ You drowning in the pond behind Rogers Middle School last October 2012 in Riverview, Florida will not be in vain! Your beautiful LIFE was for a reason! God doesn't make mistakes! Was it to help get EVERYONE TALKING about ESE "ISSUES" ~ which are many throughout the entire State of Florida. Will your tragic and senseless drowning around this time last year, will it make better changes at how students like you are TREATED IN SCHOOL? Will your death help with getting QUALITY TRAINING for those hired to work as ESE 1:1 Para Professional Aides? I HOPE SO!! 

Jennifer Caballero ~ thinking of you and your family today!! Prayers to your mom & dad!!!

Oct 23, 2012 ... RIVERVIEW — An 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome who ... Jennifer Caballero, who went by Jenny and whose mother held her in her arms...http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/girl-with-down-syndrome-found-dead-near-riverview-school/1257809 Click to read full story.

Oct 24, 2012 ... RIVERVIEW Jennifer Caballero hid under the bleachers, away from her ... A teacher saw Jennifer — an 11-year-old girl with Down syndrome ...
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/school-in-shock-after-riverview-girls-drowning/1257915 
Click to read full story.

I live in Broward and if Hillsborough County Public Schools runs like Broward Public School District, you can bet NOBODY "downtown" wants to be accountable for actions that could and should have prevented the death of Jennifer, a little girl with Down syndrome. 

Are schools with WATER nearby....are the FENCES checked on a regular basis? I don't care what school district, what matters is the SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS no matter what!!

I too am a parent to a wonderful daughter with Down syndrome and I know first hand that the support of a GOOD 1:1 Para "Professional" is everything!! TRAINING is everything when it comes to staff working with students with a disability, most are not trained or even 'collaborating' with the parents, who KNOW everything about the student they are HIRED to work with 5 days a week! ~ EVERYONE IS AT FAULT for Jenny's death! 

If the good character of the Brand New Assistant Principal, Mr. Livingston is what they are trying to point out, I can support that and all that he was overseeing...if it's true about his 'requests or CONCERNS' for things that needed to be done. Absolutely the DISTRICT Adminstrators and the different departments, the maintenance department that oversee that ALL the schools are SAFE!! That would include MAKING SURE FENCES SURROUNDING PONDS are secure and able to prevent children from DROWNING in those ponds that are within feet of the schools. Over the SUMMER Break....wouldn't it be safe to say that such SAFETY CHECKS would be ongoing without the school building Assistant Principal needing to even put in a 'request' for a full inspection of the campus for SAFETY of ALL STUDENTS! 

What is wrong with this that everyone wants to blame or ruin the full and future career of this one man, if he if found to be of good character and WAS CONCERNED with 'things' on his new campus. I would like to know more about Mr. Livingston as a leader and his background pertaining to ESE students, he sounds like her was chosen for his new position because he was what Rogers Middle School needed! 

I would like to know why the heck any and all 1:1 Para Professional Aides are not doing their jobs with caring for the individuals they are hired and receiving a pay check each week to KEEP SAFE and like Mr. Livingston said, ...."the aides need to be ENGAGED with their students"......absolutely....the teacher should have demanded that the ESE Aides DO THEIR JOBS of working with the students they were assigned to work with! 

Mr. Livingston, I am sorry you are caught in the crossfire when those that work "downtown" should be on the stand with you and held accountable for so many things, training of the Aides, fences being in good repair, teachers making sure the ESE Aides are ENGAGING with the student they are assigned to keep safe!!! 

The Building Maintenance department...what do their logs and records have about the repairs needed at that school to keep ALL STUDENTS SAFE?!!! 

Jennifer Caballero ~ Your death will not be forgotten or in vain! Because of your senseless drowning out behind your new Middle School...I am praying that ESE students like you are treated with RESPECT and Educated with School Staff that ENGAGE with their student and that all Public School Employees make sure to keep all students safe!

Listed below are a few news articles;

Aug 6, 2013 ... The assistant principal of Rodgers Middle School, fired in the aftermath of the death of a special-needs student, was before the Hillsborough ...
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/rodgers-middle-school-firing-is-revisited/2135022

Gov. Scott to sign bill that improves special needs education, allows ...
Jun 28, 2013 ... Gov. Rick Scott is set to sign a bill making big changes to the way special education is run in Florida.
http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_tampa/gov-scott-to-sign-bill-that-improves-special-needs-education-allows-parents-to-be-more-involved

Up to their games already in Broward for ESE parents via emails

It's very upsetting to know some Broward School Principals are ALREADY UP TO THEIR GAMES THEY LOVE TO PLAY WITH ESE PARENTS!!! 

The bantering of emails already ~ The TIME & EFFORT Principals & ESE Staff from 2 different Broward Public schools are already putting in back and forth to these parents is not a way to create the good customer service talked about so often in our district. 

Must be a 'green light' given to Principals from District Administrators or a new training on how to respond to ESE parent emails. 

*This information is coming from 2 different parents that have children with Down syndrome.

Digital 5 What Parents Need To Know aka "ALL" 5th Graders in 27 schools get a LAPTOP! Broward Public Schools

Digital 5 What Parents Need...: Digital 5 video with quesions and answers for parents.

"ALL" 5th Graders in 27 schools in Broward County Pubic Schools will be getting a LAPTOP! Laptops that they will 'eventually' be able to TAKE HOME for in the classroom and for homework.

Do you have a 5th grader in one of the 27 Elementary schools? Is your 5th grader on an IEP? Is your 5th grader in an ESE ONLY Classroom and not on the Regular Diploma Track?

I do hope ALL of my 5th Grade DS Peeps attending one of the 27 schools listed, is provided a laptop. Stay on top of this wonderful program that Broward County Public Schools is now rolling out for "ALL" 5th Graders in the 27 Public Elementary Schools that are slated to receive them. 

Did the video say 3000 students total will be receiving a laptop? How many of those students are ESE and in an ESE ONLY CLASSROOM? 

It would be nice to know.....

Here is the list of the 27 Elementary Schools in Broward County Public Schools:
Bennett,
Broadview
Broward Estates
Coral Cove
Coral Park
Coral Springs
Davie
Eagle Point
Harbordale
Hollywood Hills
Hollywood Park
James Hunt
Lauderhill Paul Turner
Lloyd Estates
Maplewood
Nova Blanche Forman
Palm Cove
Pembroke Lakes
Pompano Beach
Quiet Waters
Sanders Park
Sea Castle
Silver Lakes
Tropical
Watkins
Westchester

Wilton Manors

We are experiencing the Civil Rights Movement of ADA & IDEA in 2013+.

Seems no matter which AGENCY in the State of Florida accepting Federal Funds...our children with Down syndrome are the ones being denied & discriminated at every level of government!!! 

We are experiencing the Civil Rights Movement of ADA & IDEA in 2013 right now. 

Every Agency needs to be held accountable for their Actions against people! The Discrimination & Segregation need to end!!

*This absolutely may very well be true in other States with any and all other persons with Disabilities. 

Do you find this to be true? What State are you from?

I have a daughter with Down syndrome and I live in the State of Florida.

"Mariah speaks" ~ Before Broward County Public Schools over the Summer on July 23rd, 2013.

Mariah speaking before Broward County Public Schools over the Summer on July 23rd, 2013. M_07_23_2013 Her speech although unclear, was provided in writing to the Superintendent and all the School Board members so they knew what she spoke about at the podium. 

Mariah speaking before the School board over the Summer was something she wanted to do....by herself, without me standing next to her. She and I discussed what should she talk about if she was no longer a Broward County Public School Student. I withdrew Mariah from Public education in Broward before the school year ended on May 24th, 2013.

I didn't give up on Public Education... 

...Broward Public Education 

GAVE UP ON MARIAH!!

Although I filed a State Complaint pertaining to her school holding an illegal 10th IEP ~ 4 days after she had been withdrawn from attending Broward schools and was no longer a Student in this district. Naturally, I lost the State Complaint.....enough is enough of the games this school district and the State has put me thru in my trying to secure a 'real education' for my daughter, Mariah. 

This video provided by BeconTV is the entire July 23th, 2013 School Board Meeting. The Pubic Speakers begins on the Video at 143:00 with School board Chair, Laurie Rich-Livenstein opening the meeting for Public comment. Mariah is called as the first Public Speaker. To see the beginning of where Mariah starts go to 144:00 on the Video. I speak just after Mariah at 148:50 on the Video. 

It is worth a watch to see the other Public Speakers at this Summer Broward County School Board Meeting.

I am so proud my daughter wants to SPEAK OUT and become a Public Speaker. What she has to say is worth hearing. 

Written below is Mariah's actual July 23rd, 2013 Speech she spoke before Broward School Board meeting.

Hi !!

*Pause & SMILE

My name is Mariah Harris, I am 14 years old and in the 6th Grade.

I am in the Nova  U-Na-Ver-ciTy  School of the ARTS Drama Camp. I am a dancer, singer, actress and will be in the Disney MULAN show August second. I have teachers and helpers that support and BELIEVE IN ME! Want to come see me on the stage at the EP-STEEN Center?

I went to Horse Camp for 2 weeks and had a lot of FUN! FIRE is the name of my horse. I met new friends that liked me and BELIEVED IN ME at the Ranch!

I am on the SWIM TEAM at River Land Pool. Back Stroke is my best stroke. I Like doing Free Style and I'm learning the Butterfly. I love going to Swim practice every day! My Coaches BELIEVE IN ME!

I love going to the Movies and Cooking.

I am having a Great Summer.

I need people to BELIEVE IN ME and see that I CAN do it!

Do not JUDGE me because I have Down syndrome!

I am Mariah Harris, I love school and I'm a good student!

I have always been fully IN-CLUDed with an adult to help me.

BELIEVE IN and IN-CLUDE more students with Down syndrome in all of our schools!!

Have a good day!

Thank you very much.

SMILE

Mariah Harris

321funlife@gmail.com

"Mariah speaks" ~ Before Broward County Public Schools over the Summer on July 23rd, 2013.

A CLASS DIVIDED

New law aids parents of special needs children in dealing with school districts Marlene Sokol, Times Staff Writer Saturday, July 20, 2013

New law aids parents of special needs children in dealing with school districts
Marlene SokolMarlene Sokol, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, July 20, 2013 11:07am
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/new-law-aids-parents-of-special-needs-children-in-dealing-with-school/2132375

Self Advocate ~ John Anton at his job at the State House

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vmF1hUt5yw

Why charging such HIGH CO$T for Broward Public Records request from an ESE Parent?

POLICY #1343
INSPECTION & EXAMINATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS

EVERY PERSON WHO HAS CUSTODY OF A PUBLIC RECORD SHALL PERMIT. THE RECORD TO BE INSPECTED AND EXAMINED BY ANY PERSON DESIRING TO DO SO, AT ANY REASONABLE TIME, UNDER REASONABLE CONDITIONS AND UNDER SUPERVISION BY THE CUSTODIAN (DESIGNEE) OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. THE RULES LISTED BELOW SHALL COVER THE CHARGES FOR THIS SERVICE.
AUTHORITY: F. S. 230.22 (1) (2)
 F. S. 119.07
Policy Adopted: 10/16/90 AMENDED RULES APPROVED: 6/2/92

RULES
1 . For duplicated copies of not more than 14" x 8 1/2" in size, a fee of fifteen (15) cents per one-sided copy shall be
charged. For all other copies, the actual cost of the copy shall be charged. For purposes of this rule, "actual cost"
shall mean the cost of materials and supplies used to duplicate the record, but not the labor cost or overhead cost.
2 . The Board shall charge an additional five (5) cents (total of twenty {20} cents) for each two-sided duplicated copy.
3 . The Board authorizes the Superintendent to charge an additional reasonable charge for the labor and overhead
associated with the duplication of oversized documents, such as maps, photographs, blueprints, computer reports
and labels, etc.
4 . If the nature or volume of public records requested to be inspected, examined, or copied is such as to require
extensive use of information technology resources or extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by district
personnel, the Superintendent (designee) may charge in addition to the actual cost of the duplication, the labor
cost of the personnel providing the service. For purposes of this rule, "extensive" means that it will take more
than fifteen (15) minutes to locate, review for confidential information, copy and refile the requested material.
5. 4. The Board may charge up to one dollar ($1.00) per copy for a certified copy of a public record.
AUTHORITY: F. S. 230.22 (1) (2)
 F. S. 119.07

RULES ADOPTED: 10/16/90 AMENDED RULES ADOPTED: 6/2/92

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/sbbcpolicies/docs/P1343.000.pdf

*Included below is my request for PUBLIC RECORDS and the several emails that have gone back and forth trying to obtain PUBLIC RECORDS pertaining to my daughter, Mariah having her Occupational Therapy Service taken away leading up to one of many reasons for withdrawing my daughter from Broward Public Schools. Way too much nonsense and hiding information from parents!!

From: Nancy Linley-Harris 
Date: Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 8:59 PM
Subject: Why such a high cost to VIEW PUBLIC RECORDS? ///Fwd: Public Records Request 12/13-7995 (Estimated Cost)
To: Superintendent Robert Runcie , Laurie Rich Levinson , Patricia Good , "Nora A. Rupert" , Katherine Leach , Robin Bartleman , Donna Korn , Ann Murray , "Abby M. Freedman" , Rosalind Osgood , Nancy Harris , Jim Harris
Cc: Terryann Bartlett , Jeannette Ramos , PatriceTaime , LYNDA OLDS

Dear Superintendent Runcie and the School board of Broward County Public School District,

I have requested a couple of PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST and am floored at the cost for me to be able to VIEW and have access to my daughter's records..an "estimated cost" that could cost MORE than $237.93 with a deposit of $118.93 to even start 'processing" and with it possibly costing me even MORE than this estimated cost. Why is is this cost so much to view records, why not let me decide what I want paper copies of? Am I paying someone's hourly wage to go look for records that should be easily located and kept?  

Since Parkway Middle schools "ESE team" (....*the ESE Specialist) and the District ESE Department admins. have done all they can to write-up my daughter's Individual Education Plan (IEP) to be just they way 'they wanted' it to be and not anything I wanted or knew would be good for my daughter, if I wanted to help her receive a 21st Century Education everyone "talks about."

My daughter has been receiving Occupational Therapy since she was just 4 months old and in school since she was 3 years old. She needs Occupational, Speech & Language and Physical Therapy to help her with her be all she can be in her school career and in life career. 

 

On May 14th, 2013 at now the 9th IEP meeting held at Parkway Middle for my daughter; her Occupational Therapy service was taken away from her. I was not in agreement to it, but I didn't have it in me to FIGHT and FILE DUE PROCESS over it. Instead, I wanted and needed to know more about the OT services that she actually did receive this entire school year. 

If the records are really made public....Now I want to know when did my daughter actual have her OT service times, the clinical notes written about the OT sessions with my daughter, emails between any and all of the OT's that have worked with my daughter this school year. Now especially I'd like to view all emails with the Occupational therapist that worked directly and any that worked indirectly with my daughter and between their supervisor - ESE District OT/PT Administrator, Karleen Brunt. I have a feeling the ESE District Staff ultimately made the decision beforehand for my daughteroto; NOT LET HER HAVE her Occupational Therapy anymore! I'm sure that decision was made before the May 14th, 2013 IEP meeting. At the IEP meeting held on 5/14/13, it was told to me that "THEY" didn't recommend that Mariah receive OT anymore, this was told to me by Lori Anne Henrickson, the OT that evaluated Mariah recently in March. Lori didn't actually work with Mariah each  week or care that Mariah needed to be helped with increasing her speed and words per minute in writing and/or keyboarding...no new OT goals were wanted, she was just the OT that did the OT evaluations.

I would appreciate if someone can provide me clarity as to why it may cost me close to $250 just to even VIEW just my daughter's OT Records, why such a high cost with the possibility of it costing even more than the "estimated cost" of $237.93.

Thank you,

Nancy Linley-Harris

*please read emails included below

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Requel L. Bell <requel.bell@browardschools.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Subject: Public Records Request 12/13-7995 (Estimated Cost)
To: podsangels@gmail.com
Cc: podsangels@gmail.com

Ms. Harris,

You have been provided the the estimated cost to prepare the records for inspection.  Once the payment is received, you will be provided the date to inspect.

Please advise of how you would like to proceed.

Requel Bell

Public Relations and Government Affairs Dept

600 SE 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

754-321-2300/Fax 754-321-2194

Nancy Linley-Harris <podsangels@gmail.com> on Friday, June 07, 2013 at 7:46 PM -0400 wrote:

To the Attention of: Raquel Bell,

Please advise me on the availability to VIEW THE PUBLIC RECORDS I have requested pertaining to my daughter, Mariah Harris and her Occupational Therapy Clinical Notes, Dates of Service & OT Logs, including any and all email communication pertaining to my daughter with OT Therapist and Karleen Brunt. I would like to view these records.

Sincerely,

Nancy Linley-Harris

On Fri, May 31, 2013 at 4:56 PM, Requel L. Bell <requel.bell@browardschools.com> wrote:

Dear Ms. Harris,

We have received the estimated cost from the Office of Karleen Brunt.  Please forward a check or money order in the amount of $237.93 or to begin processing your request, we accept a deposit in the amount of $118.96.  Please note this is only an estimate, once the deposit has depleted, we will cease all work production and will require an additional deposit to continue.  Please forward your payment to PRGA, 600 SE 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301.  Make payment payable to Broward County Public Schools.

Please advise of how you would like to proceed.

Requel Bell

Public Relations and Government Affairs Dept

600 SE 3rd Avenue, 2nd Floor

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

754-321-2300/Fax 754-321-2194

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nancy Linley-Harris <podsangels@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, May 15, 2013 at 1:23 AM
Subject: Records Request ~ OT Therapy logs and clinical notes and emails
To: Requel Bell ~ RECORDS REQUEST BCPS <requel.bell@browardschools.com>, Nancy Harris <podsangels@gmail.com>, Jim Harris <jharfoto@bellsouth.net>
Cc: Terryann Bartlett <tabartlett@comcast.net>, Jeannette Ramos <hearts544@hotmail.com>, PatriceTaime <ptaime@bellsouth.net>

To the Attention of:  Raquel Bell 
Please accept this as a formal request for information of Public Records from the District of Broward County Public Schools.  
I am requesting copies of any and all Occupational Therapy clinical notes and OT therapy logs and dates of OT services for Mariah Harris. 
I am officially requesting any emails written between Broward County Public Schools OT Department Administrator, Karleen Brunt & any and all Occupational Therapist that have specifically worked with and assigned to work with Mariah Harris, either as her OT therapist or just as an evaluator pertaining to my daughter, Mariah Harris while attending Parkway Middle School this entire 2012-2013 school year. 
Please notify me of any charges that may apply (if any) and of when this information will be available to me.  
Thank you for your prompt attention to this Public Records request.
Nancy Linley-Harris

*sent 6/10/13 from Nancy Linley-Harris

"If a child can't learn the way we teach, 

  ...maybe we should teach the way they learn." - Ignacio Estrada

See Mariah speaking before the Senate Education Committee 3.18.13 ~ Go to 21:07 - 22:57 on the video.

http://thefloridachannel.org/video/program-201311/

Listen to Mariah & Mom speaking on National Public Radio 

http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2013/04/22/why-parents-could-get-more-control-over-their-childs-special-education-plan/

Florida ESE in 2013...Remember ~ Racial Segregation of Schools particularly in the South between 1955-1968

Florida ESE in 2013...Remember ~ Racial Segregation of Schools particularly in the South between 1955-1968. 

This Archived News Clip is worthy of watching to see the similarities with our exceptional student education (ESE) population of students today.

*The CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL Principal ~ We need more Principals like him! 

*So many awesome people that spoke out back then! True Civil Rights ADVOCATES!

Finding jobs for Cole and his peers - The Hill's Congress Blog

Finding jobs for Cole and his peers - The Hill's Congress Blog

Finding jobs for Cole and his peers

By Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) - 07/01/13 10:00 AM ET

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/308499-finding-jobs-for-cole-and-his-peers#ixzz2Y2lez7Ee 
Follow us: @thehill on Twitter | TheHill on Facebook

I know my girl is going to make a great employee, because she is the only one in my family that helps me out the most and with a great attitude about it too! One day she will be a great employee and be the most loyal. 

Broward Schools Workshop on ADVISORIES held on 6/26/2013

W_06_26_2013: SBBC workshop held on June 26th, 2013 at the KCW Bldg downtown across from the Broward County Courthouse.

Broward School Board Meeting held on June 25th, 2013 ~ BeconTV

M_6_25_2013
Click above link to view the Broward School Board Meeting held on Tuesday June 25th, 2013.

Hibbs denied right to speak. Nancy Linley-Harris reading MY speech! Bullying Issues at Deerfield Beach High - DBHS

Reposting from Juliet Hibbs YouTube.com Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/HibbsforChange
Published on Hibbs4Change 
Jul 1, 2013
By Juliet Hibbs: This is the video where I am denied the right to speak on June 25th, 2013. 

I did get the policy and I am afraid they don't understand it. It is ok! I will educate them! It is RIGHT after they see this parent give MY speech that Dr Osgood reponded......

http://youtu.be/wIQt7KY4dHQ?list=PL6sB2rcvqtoDvQIwZnELfODhqksNgJlTw

Hibbs denied right to speak. 

Nancy Linley-Harris reading MY speech! 

She did an AMAZING job!

June 25th, 2013

Deerfield Beach High School Bullying and Abusive Administration

Published on~

Hibbs4Change YouTube Channel 

Jul 3, 2014

This is an interaction...assault under the law...of a student by Kenneth May, Assistant Principal at DBHS. First he STEALS the chips the student pays for...assaults the student...pushing the students around, up against a wall ...then student didn't even do anything wrong enough to even WRITE up for anything Just sends the student to class. This is HIS administrative style, supported by the Broward County School board (they saw this video...that too ME two years to get MY hands on, Robert Runcie and Jon Marlow...Principal at DBHS. This is abuse and Bullying of a student in Broward schools Watch as Mr. May blocks the student then assaults him over a bag of potato chips. this is ABUSE!! If a parent did this they would go to jail. If a teacher can be charged with assault because they placed a sticker on the student.

Please keep the stories and videos coming. Together we can make Broward schools better...we MUST come together to stop the abuses against students, staff and parents. 

Tax payers This is YOUR tax dollar at work and REMEMBER they want to INCREASE YOUR TAXES in Novemeber 2014 ~ Say NO. 

Do not forget this is the leadership of Jon Marlow; Principal of Deerfield Beach High school. DBHS

Hibbs challenges Mr. Runcie and the Broward County School Board.



http://youtu.be/DrHjXDqfNKs?list=PL6sB2rcvqtoDvQIwZnELfODhqksNgJlTw

Segregation is still alive as a: Tampa mom fights to keep her son with Down syndrome in his neighborhood school!

Tampa mom fights to keep her disabled son in his neighborhood school

This advocate mom, Roberta Moore and her 10 year old son, who is also a student with Down syndrome, just like my daughter, Mariah is up against the SAME THING that I have been experiencing here in Broward Public Schools as well! It's parents like us with children like ours that are being DISCRIMINATED against on so many levels in the Public Education System, especially here in Florida. I have spoke before my school board, several times. This same thing is happening to so many students...everywhere! 

In Tampa, Roberta Moore attended an IEP and was absolutely against what was being suggested for her son's placement for his next school year. In Fort Lauderdale, an IEP was taking 10 meetings to write up with the suggestion from the school side of the IEP "team" leading towards having Mariah's class placement for her to be in FULL ESE CLUSTER ALL DAY FOR ALL HER CLASSES, with the exception for her to be able to 'come out' so she could attend her STEM MAGNET CLASS in a General Education Classroom. LUNCH TIME would be her other allowed time to attend school with her friends and peers without disabilities. This sort of special classroom placement suggestion was not anything Mariah was used to. Mariah has always attended the same classes as her friends she goes to school with. Mariah has always been educated in 'regular classes' and fully included in gen.ed. classes all her life. Now it seemed to be the push of her school and the IEP "team" that it would be better for her to only attend school in an ESE classroom. Same with Roberta Moore for her 10 year old son, this too was not what I wanted for my 14 year old daughter either! 

Senate Passes Bill Empowering Parents in Critical IEP Decisions

http://capitalsoup.com/2013/04/29/senate-passes-bill-empowering-parents-in-critical-iep-decisions/

I am not a teacher, but have always 'homeschooled' part-time because it is good for her and I know what is best for my daughter and her education. As her mother and her truest advocate, I know and believe in her plans for her future career choice! Mariah has always had the desire to work with animals and become a Vet Tech and go to college one day.  It's up to me to make sure that happens for her....all other's need to either support her in teaching her a quality academic education or just GET OUT OF THE WAY!

I withdrew my daughter, Mariah on May 24th, 2013 from Broward County Public School District. I enrolled her in a small private Christian school that has graduated many many students over the years! Mariah and I are very much looking forward to her new school in the Fall without so many 'cooks in the kitchen!'

I filed my official STATE COMPLAINT with the Florida Department of Education on June 7th, 2013. What's being allowed to happen to so many of our students with disabilities throughout the entire State of Florida, particularly students with Down syndrome is ripe for a CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT! Who's in?

If this same thing has happened to you, I highly recommend filing a STATE COMPLAINT! 

Senate Bill 1108 goes into law on July 1st, 2013!
click above link to learn all about what SB1108 is all about.

Public Schools get extra funds to help educate our children, but it seems instead, the Public School system is possibly using the $$MONEY$$ our special needs students generate. Our children's educational money is being spent however Principals and District Administrators want. Our children's special education funds are being spend on all sorts of things other than for those very students that need the extra support.

ESE Teachers in those ESE classrooms are not always provided the most basic of supplies that other teachers and classrooms are afforded. It's the ESE students extra funding that is attached to them for the extra they may need, yet the many ESE TEACHERS are not given a reasonable budget to spend on classroom supplies, so all the students suffer by not having what the 'typical' students receive at school each and every day. Let's talk TECHNOLOGY, TEXT BOOKS & CURRICULUM in ESE Classrooms! 

So instead of INCLUDING our children into regular classes, schools are using our children's special education funds aka as their MATRIX Funding elsewhere instead of for my child. Our Special Ed Students are a cash commodity for schools today! 

Schools and the Districts are pushing to have all Special Needs students in the same classrooms...it's called SEGREGATION & DISCRIMINATION! ~ This is 2013 people!! Martin Luther King would be applaud at what is still going on with Discrimination!!

Guess my leaving and pulling my daughter from Broward Public School "before" the big boom to herd all SWD=Students With Disabilities off to Special Schools and all ESE special classes and Special everything is a good thing that I WITHDREW my daughter completely from Public Education when I did! My daughter will be fully included at her new school, where she'll be respected and accepted for the wonderful student and person she is. 

Many SWD that have recently graduated with Standard Diploma's or what's commonly known as a REAL HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA have all 'just made it under the wire!!!" They are the LUCKY ONES today!!

It's time for us to work together to help all SWD and future SWD have the opportunity to be accepted into regular classrooms. This is not something we all should have to even worry about this day and age, but in Florida we do! Florida as well as many other States are still very much behind in treating people fairly, especially when it comes to our public education today and our students needing special education support and services. 

Being treated unfairly and being left out is not something new to SWD and their families, especially families that have someone with Down syndrome. We know all to often the feeling of things not being 'fair'. We have all felt discrimination and it hurts every time we are being discriminated against, for wanting what is every one's right and freedom...a PUBLIC EDUCATION! 

We all know that raising a child today is not easy, with or without a learning disability, but certainly if your child has a disability, our families experience alot more funky situations than most families would ever imagine and people take for granted. We have to deal with the unfairness on a regular basis because our child has Down syndrome. *or any other disability.

It's 2013 people ~ SEGREGATION & DISCRIMINATION need to STOP!

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/22567697/2013/06/12/should-special-needs-students-be-in-mainstream-classrooms#.UbiaH2fXW61.facebook

http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/baynews9/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/6/12/mom_of_boy_with_spec.html

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_south_hillsborough/tampa-mom-fights-to-keep-her-disabled-son-in-his-neighborhood-school