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Parent urges cameras and audio in special‑education classrooms after son refuses to enter school
Summary
A Pitt County parent told the school board his nonverbal son has repeatedly refused to enter school and asked the board to install cameras and audio in all exceptional children (EC) classrooms so nonverbal students "have a voice."
Robert O'Neil, a parent, addressed the Pitt County Board of Education during the public expression period to request cameras and audio in all exceptional children (EC) classrooms for nonverbal students.
O'Neil described his son, a nonverbal student at Farmville Central High School, and said the student has repeatedly refused to enter school. "He will not go into the school. He'll get out. He'll stand on the sidewalk out front. He will not step his foot in that front door," O'Neil said, describing attendance struggles that began in middle school and recurred in high school.
O'Neil said the family has pursued IEP meetings and homebound services and that the process to obtain homebound services felt slow. He asked the board for cameras and audio in EC classrooms so "all students that is nonverbal will have a voice besides their silent voice," adding that the recorded material would help his son and other nonverbal students be better understood.
The board's public‑comment rules were read before the remarks; the chair reminded the speaker when his five minutes expired and the board did not discuss or act on the request during the meeting. The transcript records the request and the board's rules that public expression is for comments only and that the board will not respond during the comment period.
What was said
- "I have a nonverbal son that goes to Farmville Central High School. So I'm here to speak for him because he is nonverbal in your EC class," O'Neil said.
- "I'm requesting cameras and audio to be put in all EC classes so that all students that is nonverbal will have a voice besides their silent voice," he concluded within his allotted time.
No formal action recorded
The transcript does not show board discussion or any immediate follow‑up action on the request. Board members later thanked public speakers and encouraged continued engagement; the transcript notes the board will listen but will not respond during the public expression period.
Background and context
O'Neil said his son's attendance has been tracked through IEP processes and that he received homebound services after a teacher volunteered that another class could host the student for an hour. He said the student had attended school only "12 times in the last year," a figure he presented in IEP discussions to argue for homebound services. The district and board did not offer a response on record to the request for cameras and audio during the meeting.
Source: Public expression remarks by Robert O'Neil at the Pitt County Board of Education meeting.
