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Parent says district failed to follow IEP after child returned from school with injuries; trustees call for review
Summary
A Natrona County parent told the school board that her third-grade son’s individualized education program was not followed and that staff filed police reports after two incidents; trustees said they expect the district to investigate.
A mother told the Natrona County School District #1 Board of Trustees that her third-grade son with an Individualized Education Program was injured at Cottonwood Elementary and that district staff did not follow his IEP or promptly notify her.
Genevieve Hugo, who identified herself as the child’s mother, said she filed a complaint with the Wyoming Department of Education in 2023 to secure the IEP. She told trustees that staff filed a police report after her son was “held and kicked in the stomach in front of staff,” and that on two subsequent occasions he returned home with bruises and she was not notified by school staff. Hugo said no one took the child to the nurse after the first incident and that she had to notify the principal when she discovered the injuries at home.
The board heard Hugo’s account during the public-comment period. The allegations included an assertion that staff contacted the district resource officer and the police after the parent reported concerns, and that the parent believes the district has not provided consistent support or answers at the school level.
Why it matters: if a student’s IEP is not followed, the district can face administrative complaints and the student can be deprived of the specially designed instruction and protections the IEP requires.
Trustee Sarah Hopkins said she hoped the district would investigate Cottonwood and provide help for the child. Trustee Michael Schmidt also urged the parent to find a placement that best fits the child’s needs if necessary. Chairman Kristofferson acknowledged the comment and moved the meeting forward to other items.
The board record for the meeting shows no formal motion or vote related to the complaint during the session; trustees expressed expectation that district staff would address the concerns but did not put a formal directive on the record.
Clarifying details from the public comment: Hugo said she had filed a Wyoming Department of Education complaint in 2023 to obtain the IEP. She described two school incidents she gave as occurring on Sept. 8 and Sept. 12 (as reported to the board), during which she said her son was left without timely medical attention and she was not notified by staff. Hugo said school administrators informed her that calling the district resource officer (RSO) and filing police reports followed district policy when someone is injured.
No district staff presented a timeline, investigation status, or proposed remedies during the meeting. The superintendent did not announce a formal investigation report or timeline on the record during this session.
The parent asked the board for help; trustees publicly expressed concern and urged district staff to follow up. The transcript of the meeting does not show a board vote or written directive recorded at this meeting.
