| Subject: Only a Couple other Issues for now... |
Author:
Shawn
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Date Posted: 20:14:34 04/29/04 Thu
First of all.. the idea of putting the school administration and the town administration together in one building, I liked.
But to use any funding other than straight tax dollars, I guess it cannot be done. Thats understandable now that I think about it.. and I could see how Charlie Mara could miss that as well. He doesn't have the experience with state and town finances that Joe does.
But the idea of putting them together with a school.. that was the first anyone had heard of that.
Now, maybe its the foster parent in me, or the youth group leader, but BIG FLAGS went off when Charlie brought up this idea.
Just the idea of having people randomly entering the building to go to the town offices or school admin.. people we don't know, delivery men, reporters... just think of the youth protection issues this raises.
I have constant issues with bio-parents trying to get access to their children that are currently in the care of the state. There are many kids who's parents are fighting custody battles and one could easily slip past the security of a business office/school building arrangement (as is proven by the pedophile who slipped into the Lowell school a few months ago).
Charlie's trying to dismiss this as a rare occurrance shows his misunderstanding of the issues of safety with regard to some serious issues that I, the social service system, and the police departments have to deal with every day.
And the only other issue that maybe I heard wrong.. but he seemed to imply that the school could file a 51A on children who are being disruptive in class.
Now, I'm sorry, but I'm dealing with one of these cases just today... where we (DSS) are filing a 51A against the Lighthouse School in Chelmsford over their mishandling of a disruptive student.
The school can file a 51A charge of neglect or abuse against a parent (actually they must file if they believe that there is a case of either). They cannot file a 51A neglect or abuse charge for a child's disruptive behavior.
They can file assault charges on the child, or one of a number of other safety or endangerment charges. But not a 51A.
At that point, the DSS or DYS would get involved, and then THEY would do an investigation and determine the best route necessary to deal with what is in the best interest of the child. (A disruptive child, be him bully, erratic, or violent is acting out for some reason that needs to be determined and dealt with). The DSS/DYS may recommend a CHINS (Child in Need of Services petition... many of us are trying to work to change this to FINS: Family in Need of Services). The school has no input at this point.
Now, in terms of this issue, May Paquette seemed to me to be thinking most in terms of dealing with the problem. Most teachers and administrators tend to want to "throw away" problem children. Believe me, every foster parent can tell you story after story regarding this. May understands that these children need an education as well, and wants to work to develop services and programs to try to isolate these children and work with them to help them to succeed. I'm not completely sure of Joe's opinion on this issue. He did speak to isolating and separating these children.. I encourage him and the other members of the committee to continue studying this issue. I understand that there is a sub-committee working on special needs issues, and I have offered to join and help out on this committee.
We currently run a great system in the High School (I believe its under special ed) that tries to help many children who would otherwise have dropped out and become burdens on our society.
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