Parent speaker alleges IEP and Section 504 violations at Garden Ridge Elementary; board reminded of notification obligations

During the public comment period, Kevin Samuelson said his wife, a speech-language pathologist at Garden Ridge Elementary, was threatened to alter medical documentation and was then forced out of her office. He said she delivered services in a hallway after the removal from her office and that the disruption affected roughly 75 students with IEPs and Section 504 plans.

Samuelson said the district gave his wife three choices: quit, remain and endure harassment, or transfer to two campuses at half pay; she transferred and kept a grievance active. He asked whether the board and district had fulfilled legal obligations to notify parents that their childrens special-education and Section 504 rights had been violated once the district was informed.

Samuelson characterized his wifes actions as "personal courage" and said she fulfilled her duty by reporting the alleged violations; he asked whether the board had shown comparable courage and whether parents had been notified as required by law.

The board did not take action during public comment. Trustees did not publicly state whether notification to parents had occurred during the meeting; such procedural compliance falls under district administration and legal counsel. The meeting record shows the comment was offered during the public comment agenda item and that the board declined to deliberate on non-agenda items during the public comment period.

The district later moved personnel and grievance discussions into closed session, citing Texas Government Code provisions; the board subsequently authorized the superintendent and legal counsel in open session to proceed as discussed in closed session on a separate personnel item (see separate article on termination action).