Resident tells board state found division failed to provide required supports for her child

Brenda Marks addressed the board during the Aug. 6 public comment period to report she had received a July 18 letter of finding that, she said, concluded the district was not in compliance with required supports and accommodations for her daughter.

“I sent you an email that included the letter of finding that stated Hampton City Schools was not in compliance with providing the required supports and accommodations necessary to ensure my daughter received a free and appropriate public education,” Marks said. “Not one of you even acknowledge receipt of that email.”

Marks told the board the finding confirmed, in her view, long-standing problems: “Your motto is a lie and every time you use it, be on a letterhead or otherwise, you are perpetrating a fraud. You can never use the term every child again because you now have proof in writing from a third independent party that there is one child that you have failed and are continuing to fail.”

She said the issue has persisted for seven years and complained the division sought accolades while failing to provide required supports for her child.

Ending: The public-comment protocol read at the start of the meeting made clear the board would not engage in dialogue during the comment period and that matters requiring a response would be directed to the superintendent for research and response. The superintendent or staff may follow up as appropriate, the board stated in the meeting’s protocol read by the clerk.