Parents Battle Special Ed. Program After Student is Seriously Injured

Updated: Feb 8, 2008 12:16 AM EST
By Natalie Arnold

A group of parents is refusing to send their children back to the special education program at a Neenah elementary school after one student was seriously injured by a teacher.

So far everyone agrees it was an accident but the parents say this was not the first time their children have been hurt, and they are demanding a change.

Even though her daughter is ten, Ann Lutz feels that day care would be much better for Nicole than a Neenah public school.

"I've lost complete trust in the school, the staff, and actually the school district," Lutz said.

Two months ago, a teacher at Coolidge Elementary broke Nicole's jaw when he tried to remove her from a piece of equipment that helps disabled children stand.

"Nicole's teeth, gum, and the bone that the teeth are into completely came out of her mouth," Lutz described.

As soon as two other parents found out, they took their children out of school, too. All say their kids have been hurt in the past.

"I told Ann I would not send Brittany back to school until something is done. Something has to be done," parent Christine Becker said.

Despite claims to the contrary, as far as the district is concerned, what happened to Lutz's daughter was an isolated incident. Officials defend the teacher and the program.

Anne Lang is director of pupil services. "There really wasn't anything that was done wrong in terms of, as I said, negligence of that sort. We really feel that the teacher has been doing a great job. The educational assistants have been spoken to."

The parents say that's just not true. They won't bring their kids back until there's a change. The best option, they believe, would be a complete change in staff.

"I'm just amazed at the response of the school system. I'm really disappointed," Lutz said.