Parent Group Blows the Whistle on Delaware School District

For Immediate Release ^ | 04/3/2003 | Parent Advisory Council Team

[pray4liberty]

Parent Group Blows the Whistle on Delaware School District

Parents allege discrimination of special education, minority and low-income white students

Members of a parent watchdog group, Parents Advisory Council Team (P.A.C.T.) has reported the Appoquininink School District of Odessa, Delaware to the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, alleging noncompliance with special education IEPs, racial discrimination, and misuse of zero tolerance to target and expel low-income white students and minority students that school administrators do not like.

The parents and children span racial, cultural, socioeconomic and political lines.

The parents claim the school district is abusing their power and authority and betraying the trust of parents and taxpayers. They allege the District is taking an active role in destroying the future of their children by harsh and discriminatory discipline practices. Some of the children were on the honor roll and participants in the JROTC program.

"These are good kids and they are trying to ruin them," says Marie Wagenaar, mother of one of the JROTC students who was expelled. "They are trying to close the door on a military career for some of these kids whose parents don't have the money to send them to college."

Nonetheless, high school and middle school students have been suspended and eventually expelled for minor and non-violent offenses. Disturbingly, school officials have the authority to turn over unsworn witness statements to the New Castle County police and Family Court for criminal prosecution. The parents say their children are never read their rights when arraigned and are further traumatized by being stripped of their coats and shoes and handcuffed to a wall, in an unheated, locked cell, at the New Castle County Police Station in Middletown.

They allege the school district is taking an active role in creating a community of high school dropouts, some as young as 14, with police records that are undeserved.

We have been told by Kittie Rehrig, Supervisor of Student Services, that as far as she was concerned, "expulsion is not good enough," say two of the mothers. "Is this what she means?"

Several parents have turned to homeschooling rather than have their children forced to attend the alternative education program at the New Beginnings school in Wilmington.

The parents allege violations of the children's civil and Constitutional rights to due process and the right to a free public education specified in State law.

P.A.C.T.'s website is http://totallyunjust.hypermart.net

Appoquinimink School District website is: http://www.apposchooldistrict.com

Office of Civil Rights: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/index.html

[RockBassCreek]

I agree that that is also an excellent alternative.

Harrison taught five years at Reynolds High School. Her husband still teaches in the Reynolds School District. The Harrisons enrolled their children in Phonics Phactory when their son was in fourth grade and their daughter in second, transferring them from Troutdale Elementary School. Both are now at Reynolds High and doing well. JoAnn Harrison is in her sixth year of teaching at Phonics Phactory.

The highlighted section about her husband tells me that there are financial issues for the employees. My experience is that (at this point in time, at least) that the Christian schools are not providing full financial compensation to those who teach for them. The teachers out of dedication to Christ are taking far smaller wages than would normally be fair.

What is a fair wage for a teacher since it is not a business? Enough to meet expenses of humble quality food, clothing, shelter if raising a family. Notice that I didn't suggest making them rich.

[ladylib]

Some women take positions in private schools just to have a job, since the husband makes a good enough salary to live on. That may be the case here. If there really were financial issues, the woman would have to seek a job that pays better.

My sister-in-law teaches in a Catholic school. She taught in the public school system and made 1/3 more in salary. She loves teaching in the Catholic school system and would never go back to public schools. She can afford not to teach in a public school.

I have a feeling that since this school is rapidly expanding, the salaries aren't that bad.

[Gabz]

I've been a bit behind here lately - but do you have an update on the situation?????

[pray4liberty]

The parents have filed complaints with the Office of Civil Rights as they got nowhere with State. The school district has friends at State. OCR is investigating the Appoquinimink School District at this time.

[pray4liberty]

We have a local board of education. They just don't fire people, even when it's warranted.

[Gabz]

I'm glad to hear about the OCR complaint.

That the parents got no where with state does not surprise me - it is Delaware, after all.

[pray4liberty]

Some employees have filed EEOC complaints too.

There's a big story here if someone would have the balls to print it.

[pray4liberty]

At long last, the woman with the initials KR was let go. Someone finally got wise to her crazy-eyed games and verbal abuse of children. She traumatized them. May Almighty God do to her as she has done to those poor children. Nathan, Becky, Julie and Meredith, and the unknown victims in Delaware, God answered your prayers.