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Parent tells Caledonia board her nonverbal son has been denied services, seeks follow-up
Summary
At the May 19 board meeting, Christina Donaldson urged Caledonia Community Schools to address what she described as repeated denials of special-education services for her nonverbal tenth-grade son and a lack of district follow-up since March; she said numerous lengthy meetings and legal involvement have not resolved her concerns.
Christina Donaldson told the Caledonia Community Schools board on May 19 that her nonverbal tenth‑grade son, Daniel, has not received what she described as free and appropriate public education (FAPE) and that the district had not followed up on her March request.
"Since then, I have not received any response from the district or follow-up," Donaldson said, recounting what she said were more than 25 meetings over recent years that included principals, multiple district administrators, teachers, staff and district legal counsel. She said those meetings have cost district staff and outside counsel substantial time and money and have often felt adversarial rather than student‑centered.
Donaldson asked the board to review the district's response and hold institutions and individuals accountable, citing broader concerns about staff burnout and institutional distrust. She referenced recent resignations among special‑education teachers and quoted a teacher’s warning about isolating teachers and eroding trust when parents are treated as adversaries.
The board did not take formal action at the meeting on Donaldson’s request; public comment concluded and the agenda proceeded to district business. The superintendent had previously described personnel‑level concerns as matters to be referred to the superintendent for resolution during the board’s public‑comment guidance, and Donaldson urged the board to ensure the district follows up. The board’s public records of next steps and any formal responses to Donaldson were not specified at the May 19 session.
