Hazing incident - Where was the supervision?

Grizelda

Thanks for your comments. I was hoping you would chime in on this incident.

Yes, those in leadership at this school (Ward and the coaches), the superintendent (Owens), and the school board members have let all of us down in this case and others  in FIHS short history.  

When harassment of students (Kelli Davis) by the Principal Ward  and  a teacher is permitted, a teacher  has sex with her student with no consequences, and hazing is allowed with little consequence to students and no consequence to the coaches, I say this school's leadership is in bad need of a change. Superintendent Owens has the power to make those changes, but since he is part of the problem, we all know that nothing will change. 

Yes, ACT decisively at the polls in '08. Let's make change happen! Superintendent Owens and 2 of the 5 school board seats are up for re-election. One of the board members, Wayne Bolla, has served one term. Bolla is known as a thorn in Owens' side, and that's not a bad thing. Superintendent Owens and School Board member Carol Studdard, have had a lengthy tenure, and at times have run for re-election unopposed.

Grizelda;

Excellent points! And the wrestling program still gets to participate in at least some of this year's program and the end season championship series. I don't know when or where this incident took place so perhaps the coaches did not have the opportunity to control the situation?

If this was California there would already be a multi-million dollar law suit against the school, the county, Mr. Ward, the school board and a host of others just to make sure they hit every deep pocket they could. Although, I doubt that it is too late for that and I for one would support the parent/s if they did file a suit.

The only problem I see here with voters taking action is that I don't think Mr. Ward is elected. I guess we could try to get rid of the school board that appointed him, but I'm not sure that would actually solve the problem. He seems to be pretty deeply entrenched with lots of supporters.

Please do not take this as a poke in the eye. That is not my intention. Your responses to the student protest over the fences and gates made it sound as if you were a staunch supporter of Mr. Ward's leadership style. You seem to have changed sides somewhat. With these comments coming from someone 'in the trenches', I'd just like to know what caused the apparent change of mind.

I'm still curious as to whether those fences and gates he had installed are kept open during school hours as the Fire Marshall said they should be.

Finder

Finder

The school board members do not appoint the principals. The Superintendent (Owens) does this. Ward will be at the helm of the school as long as Owens is superintendent.

Glad you're keeping up with this story. 

Here is how it goes. The superintendent makes a recommendation to rehire the principals. They are all on annual (one year) contracts. If the board has issue with the leadership ability of one of the principals, they can turn down his recommendation. They cannot turn down a single individual on the list, but they can turn down the whole list. This is a powerful weapon the board can use if they desire. Let's say we have 35 principals in Clay. If the board turns down the recommendations, 34 of those principals aren't going to be happy. This puts tremendous pressure on the superintendent. He has 35 schools, and not a single principal until the board approves his list. Superintendents will most certainly cut their losses and likely have some serious discussions with the board. I don't know if the executive session rule applies to this or not. Executive sessions are not open to the public, and everyone can truly speak their mind.

The scenario above has happened in several instances in the last few years in Florida, I don't know the exact statistics, but in most instances the superintendent will bow to the wishes of the board. Quite frankly, it's not worth the heat. Give up one principal, and go on. That is, if the superintendent wants to be re-elected. Board members tend to listen to their constituents, and they aren't happy with what's going on in their district (school).  All the recent publicity about FIHS and the goings on there certainly do not bide well for the administration.  People do not want to read about their school, unless it is about a winning sports team, or an academic achievement.  The stuff about FIHS as of late hasn't been positive; student protests, teachers resigning over alleged student/teacher relationships, and now hazing of their students.  I won't mention previous years.  FIHS has some administrative issues.

Dang, but a person can get a real education on this blog site. The appointment system sounds like a two edged sword. They can't disapprove one but they can disapprove all.

There's lots of information here to think about before I get to the voting booth. From the tone of the blogs I've seen concerning Mr. Owens and Mr. Ward, there doesn't seem to be much middle ground. People either love them and sing their praises, or they hate them and want them out at the earliest possible time.

It will be interesting to see the fallout from all that has happened in the past few months. I find it strange that the police have not been involved in this case. I'm more used to areas where the school is required to report this type of incident to the police. If they didn't, the police would be locking up the principal, the coaches, the students and anyone else that knew about it and didn't report it.

But then, from the information in the other blog concerning this incident I gather that some of the parents are local law enforcement.

Finder

I make a point of supporting what I think is right. In this case, the responsible parties need to be held accountable. I understand the hazing incident took place in the wrestling room. I don't know anything else about it. 

Most of the gates are open. There is more to the fences than keeping the kids in. We also want to keep some people out.

In my previous post, I expressed my opinion about one issue. I am open-minded enough to be able to see both sides of most issues. In this case, I know what would have happened if this had occurred on my watch. There is a distinct double-standard for coaches and other teachers, and I predict nothing will happen to those responsible for those kids welfare. 

Wah, Wah, Wah!

I'm pretty sure there was a point to your comment, I just can't figure out what it was. Could you elaborate a little? 

Finder

Be sure and pick up this week's Folio. In it there is another story about our Clay County School system.

Pioneer, I have just finished reading this article in Folio. I am absolutely appalled. I am also not one little bit surprised at the attitude of David Owens. As I have stated too many times before, it is this complacency that settles into elected officials after too long a stint in a job. After awhile they no longer see elected office as a privilege but a right and they also begin to exhibit symptoms of brain degradation.  David Owens is a disgrace as a human being if even 1/10th of this story is true. This is why elected officials need to be changed regularly, much like an infant and for the same reason. I am also sure there are dozens of teachers who could and should be encouraged to run against this creep in the next election.

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

Lily,

If only there were term limits for Superintendent Owens and School Board! 

pi and lilyslore,

Is the story posted online? I'd like to read it but the Folio is not delivered this far south.

I'm in favor of term limits, too, pi. That is something worthy of a good public debate and research.

Thanks for your help.

KEY

I called Folio for you, since I know it is long distance to call from Keystone and spoke with Editor Ann Shindler. Folio is not on line, and as you said, it is not delivered in Keystone.

I hope you get into town and are able to pick one up. In the meantime, I have other contacts that should be supplying me with some helpful information regarding your desire to read the article. I will pass the information on to you when available.

I know if you drive over to the Fleming Island library you can pick up a copy there. I'm not sure aout the Middleburg library. Call and ask them. No point in driving around helter skelter to try an find one thing.

The story is well worth reading. I'm still wondering why they have no interest in the Elmer Polite story, though. That is tailor made for Folio. Ah well, having suffered from a case of Diminished Expectations for so long, one more diappointment ain't gonna kill me. What really galls me is they are not even well mannered enough to respond to an e-mail. In that sense, they are no better than the T-U on the Polite story.

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

lilyslore and pi,

Thanks for going to bat for me. I really appreciate it. Sometimes it really sucks to be a bottom feeder of the county (for all you fisherman, call me catfish.) Otherwise, just know I live in Keystone.

pi, I'll probably end up driving to the GSC library to pick up a copy of the Folio (at least, I hope so. The Folio hadn't started delivering since the renovations last time I checked. I'll call before I drive over there.)

lilyslore, as a reporter, I love telling people's stories. For me, it's the greatest privilege to communicate someone's perspective, their truth, or a discovery. If you desire to know more about the Elmer Pilot story, why don't you call Susan Armstrong? I'm sure she'd be more than happy to share with you what she has learned about the Polite story and follow it to its natural conclusion. Her phone number is 904/260-9770 ext 350.

Still looking for the Kameron story.

I honestly can't think of a word to describe how this article made me feel. Perhaps I could, but I certainly wouldn't want to subject you to the type of words I'd have to dredge up.

As an 8/9 year old I spent many, many hours in the waiting/play room at a facility called the Homestead in northern NJ. My sister had Polio and went through 2 years of the most excruciating physical therapy that any 3/4 year old could ever be asked to endure. But she reaped the rewards of her persistence and the care provided there.

This facility also worked with children that had CP, MS, MD, Downe and a number of other disabilities that I can't even remember the names of. I watched children and adults struggle to express themselves and learn as best they could to take care of themselves.

One thing I learned early on was that 'normal' kids could be the cruelest people in the world. They took what they learn from the parents to a whole new level because they didn't know any better. I had many a skinned knuckle and black eye trying make some of the 'normals' understand that I wasn't impressed with them kicking a crutch out from under someone they saw as a 'gimp', or calling these kids dummy or retard.

The other thing I learned early on was that the 'specials' may not have been able to make you understand them very well, but they almost always understood what was going on around them.

I just find it hard to believe that fifty some years later we still have adults acting like ignorant cruel children. If these idiots don't think that Kameron understood what was going on, I believe they are sadly mistaken. They can treat adults any way they think they can get away with. The adults can defend themselves. To treat a young man like a throw away because you don't want to deal with trying to help him is beyond cruel.

I don't know who, or how many of the School Board are running this year (yet), but you can be that if it says incumbent beside their name I will be voting for someone else. One of the chimps from a previous blog has a better chance of getting my vote than any incumbent school board member.

In case you haven't picked up on it, I am not happy about this. Some or all of the people involved from the school side need to seek employment opportunities elsewhere. To call themselves educators is to disgrace the profession.

Finder

That must be one great Folio story. There is not a single Folio on Fleming Island.  I went to the library, and to Bonos and not a single copy of Folio weekly was to be found.  How about someone who has a copy of this weeks Folio filling us poor people in on the story.  Keystone, you are not alone.  Maybe the school board grabbed all the copies on the Island.   Who knows....does anyone actually have a copy?  How about at least paraphrasing it for us poor people who can't find a copy.  By the way, it is not my favorite publication, however, the articles seem to be very accurate, and the writings of someone who is "in" in Clay county.

Islander:

I just got one of the last Folios at the FI Library today and read the story. You may be correct... Either the story is very popular and people are picking it up to read, or they are being "confiscated" by the school system. This would not be the first time that certain county godfathers or elected officials exposed in the Folio have "removed" the paper. I encourage you to call Folio 260-9770 tomorrow. I remember occasions where they have sent more to replace the issues that mysteriously disappeared.

The 9 page story is gut wrenching. To think that this happened to little Kameron in our school system by people who should have loved him and educated him has shaken me to my core. No child and family should have to go through this.

The story details his life (a child with Down) from birth until the time he entered Paterson Elementary. Until that time, Kameron thrived in a loving home, neighborhood and pre-school environment. After entering Paterson, a change in principals signaled a change for Kameron that will have lasting effects for this precious child.

That's the best I can do for now. Words aren't coming...only tears.

Islander, my lovely bride put our copy out for recycle this morning. I found my copy at the Loop by Publix in EH. Dominics across from FIHS usually has some and the New York Style Pizza joint on 220 in the BP station might be another place to try.

The story itself is about 5-6 pages long so it is pretty hard to paraphrase. It is a classic case of trying to get the system to work the way it should. It is a story about a 3-4 year battle with nitwits that are more interested in using money earmarked for a particular program for their own ideas of where it should go.

Mostly it is a story of a mother that is trying to do the best she can for a special needs son and being snubbed, ignored and outright abused by people that are supposed to know better.

Now you have to understand that I am more than just a little emotional about things like this so perhaps you want to take some of it with a grain of salt. I have done my best to take the emotion out of it, but it is really hard for me to do.

Finder

As stated before, I am a teacher. I find it hard to believe that something like that could happen. I am not a specialist in Exceptional Education, but for the most part, Clay does an outstanding job of trying to accommodate children with special needs. I will admit that in some instances, the closest school to a particular child may not be able to meet their special needs. So, they may be bused to a school that has a program that can meet their needs. Downs syndrome children are special, if you have ever personally interacted with one, you know that. If not, you have truly missed a wonderful experience. I know that at the high school level, the needs of special children are met by a variety of special programs geared to each child's specific specific need. I know of one location of a special needs program that has two aides, a nurse and a teacher for no more than 8-9 special needs children. These children are exposed to a warm, loving, and educationally sound environment.

I have not read the article, but I do find it strange that a mother has battled for so long with the educational system and not involved an attorney. Most parents of special needs children are very well informed on the laws regarding their children. Most special needs parents would not hesitate to do whatever they need to guarantee their child the best education available. For something to have gone on so long as hinted in the articles summary on the web teaser site for Folio, I just find it hard to believe. There have been too many lawsuits fought and won in courts that find school districts at fault for Clay to pursue a reckless path when dealing with special needs children.

I am a great advocate of educating every child to the extent necessary to maximize their potential, and I cannot see how such a blunder, or so much omission could have been made. But as the saying goes "to err is human, and to forgive is divine."

I am beginning to wonder why the Folio has such an affinity for Clay county. I have heard through the grapevine that one of the writers seeks vengeance against Clay. We are not atypical from the rest of counties in north Florida, so why is Clay the lede story of so many Folio issues? I know we are a special place, but we are not that special. It just makes me wonder....

Islander

You have to read the story in order to understand the depth of what this child and his mother went through. It is extremely well documented.

You're right. Kameron's Mom was very well informed, took copious notes and kept all the emails from district administrators, as well as outside specialists. She did indeed fight valiantly for her child.

The family did have an attorney. She was from the state advocacy center. After a long, hard fight for Kameron, the attorney's view was that Kameron would win in a court battle because the law was on his side. However, in winning, Kameron would still lose because he was in a place where he would never be accepted, only tolerated.

As a teacher, you know that the school system is just like any other bureaucracy. The reality is quite different from the picture they paint for the public.

Yes, "to err is human, and to forgive divine." However, if my child were hurt as Kameron was hurt, I would not be quick to accept platitudes, and if this were your child, I doubt you would either.

Clay County coverage is a small part of Folio. I feel we are very lucky to have someone to occasionally cover a few Clay County cover-ups. It would take a team of full-time writers to actually write about all the boondoggles that go on in this county! We have lots of people who are quick to praise our feckless leaders, but few who stand against them. I don't think a writer seeks revenge when that writer tells the truth.

Try checking at the local seafood markets for the Folio....they are generally used to wrap the fish in.

PBinCC......and I thought it was just for mullet   LOL

Stryker

Let me just say, if half of the story is true, the School District has a lot to answer for. So much for NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.

I work for a community college. We make accommodations for individuals like Kameron every day up to and including the special computer Kameron needs to be accurately assessed for learning gains. Let's understand what "accommodations" mean. It means that certain learning abilities have been identified and with accommodations, it's "possible" for a student to succeed. It isn't a given they'll succeed but they're exposed to a learning environment that is conducive to making learning gains.

It's true for Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy etc. It doesn't sound like this happened for Kameron.

The other point I will make (because it is a logical point), technically, the School Board didn't violate the IDEA recommendations because the School Board has never adopted them (as Mrs. Armstrong pointed out in her story.) Could they? Yes. Should they? Yes. It's in the best interests of their students.

And here's my bias: Clay County is not on the cutting edge of education. We have excellent teachers in our schools. But Clay County reaps the reward of having parents and students who care about education. Their success breeds success. Mr. Owens is lucky to have parents who live in his county who care about education. Duval County is not as lucky.

Words can't describe how badly I feel for Kameron. He could have been honored and uplifted in his neighborhood school. But that was not his experience. We failed Kameron. We failed him. I feel his failure.

Karen Lake

It is federal law that the school system has to make accommodations for children with special needs through their 21st birthday. The law covers students that are  gifted to mentally handicapped.  The school system has to make reasonable accommodations that meet the students needs.  I have been in all of the schools in the county and have seen some very sad cases of children with disabilities.  It will make an old salty COP cry.

http://www.coping.org/specialed/rights.htm

P.S. Key, nice dress you were wearing at the Youth Challenge Graduation. You never know where Magnum may be watching.

That feels kinda weird. Thank you Magnum. It is a vivid color dress, yes? I appreciate the compliment. Hopefully, it was a good hair day as well. Next time, come say, "hello."

I love going to the Youth Challenge graduation. It's another program that reaches those kids that don't fit in "regular" classrooms. It works amazingly well for students who stay the course.

I don't think you'd get an argument from the School District about whether or not they met their obligation to Kameron. From their perspective, they did. From a parent's perspective, they didn't.

At the college level, ESE students are integrated in all classes. No one knows there are accommodations at all due to privacy laws and, I see it. It works well. I guess I was surprised to learn from Susan's story how much we "contain" students who learn differently. And based on the recommendations from IDEA, why the School District hasn't adopted their recommendations. I'm sure it's researched based (or Duval wouldn't have adopted). I'd be very interested in learning why Clay doesn't mainstream more students, where possible.

Clay counties high schools have been mainstreaming students when and where possible. Additional resource teachers have been added to help the ESE students make it in a mainstream class. The system seems to work well. At issue is the fact that many regular education teachers have not had the training necessary to successfully make the needed accommodations. In addition many regular education students have trouble dealing with the special needs students. For years the regular ed and ESE students were kept apart from each other. At times, they just don't play well together. This produces an added dynamic in the classroom. Teachers have difficulty making the accommodations, wrestling behavior and discipline problems and covering the class content. This is especially difficult in a 10th grade class whose students face the FCAT subject test. We won't even get into the issue that regular ed and ESE students get punished differently for the identical discipline infractions. It takes an extremely talented teacher to manage a mainstreamed class. Not all teachers are cut out for this type of classroom because of their personal teaching style. For mainstreaming to be most effective, teachers should be able to volunteer to teach these classes, not simply assigned to them

islander,

If it's happening - when possible - at the high school level, then why not at an elementary level. It makes sense to me that the earlier students are integrated, the more confidence it builds in that child. Their confidence could lead to tackling greater academic challenges.

I understand it places a heavier demand on teachers so maybe your suggestion of integrating students with teachers who volunteer to integrate is the path of choice. I would point out that the teacher in Kameron's case, was not the problem. Kameron had his own aide. It was (per the Folio story) the adminstration and guidance counselors.

The only silver lining for Kameron is that he qualified for a McKay scholarship and is being educated in a supportive environment.

Key,

We have met before when you were reporting for the LRM. I will refresh your memory when I see you again and able to talk.

Key:

I assure you it is happening at the high school level.  As for junior high and elementary, I honestly don't know what they are doing.  Elementary teachers are a different group of people, and do tend to be a little more turf oriented, so any issues would most likely be on the elementary level.  All teachers have their turf, but elementary much more so because of the age of the children they teach.  In my opinion in successful mainstreaming depends on the teacher.  Some teachers are suited for it, and some are not.