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Parent tells Kanawha County board an IEP was not followed, says criminal investigation underway
Summary
A delegation at the June 12 Kanawha County Board of Education meeting alleged an individualized education program (IEP) was altered and not followed, said there is an active criminal investigation and asked the board to address systemic staffing and supervision failures for special education students.
A community member told the Kanawha County Board of Education on June 12 that an IEP for a student was changed and not followed, and that a criminal investigation is pending.
Tenegus Ikes, a resident who said he has three adopted special-education sons who attended Kanawha County Schools, told the board he had pursued the issue from teacher to principal to district offices and to the state. "There's an active criminal investigation occurred because an IEP was not followed, was added to by a administrator, by a principal for a behavioral improvement plan," Ikes said during the board's delegation period.
Ikes said the alleged problem stemmed from a behavioral intervention plan (BIP) that was attached to an IEP and not followed by staff. He described an instance in which a student covered by a BIP requiring adult supervision went unaccompanied into a room and later used a restroom alone, which he said led to an incident that was recorded and reported. "It was tried to be swept under the carpet," he said, and added he wanted the board aware so the matter would not be a surprise when it reached them.
The speaker characterized the issue as part of a broader pattern of "systemic complacency" in staffing and supervision. He said one student had been forced out of Kanawha County Schools after reporting incidents to peers and that staffing plans promised on re-entry were not followed. "We're back into a facility... we are now told we're going to get an adult to supervise... That son made it 2 weeks before he was sent to the bathroom by himself without his adult supervision person," Ikes said.
The board did not take action during the meeting; delegations are not agenda items the board can vote on unless placed on a future agenda. The speaker requested the board review the matter and ensure staff follow IEPs and BIPs as written.
Board members received the delegation during the public comment period and did not announce any immediate follow-up steps at the meeting. The board's formal records show no motion or vote tied to the delegation during the session.
The matter described in the delegation involves allegations against school staff and an ongoing criminal investigation, according to the speaker; the board did not confirm details or provide additional information during the meeting.
