Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Education Parental Access topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents urge Owatonna board to allow classroom visits after special-education child became distressed
Summary
Two parents asked the board to permit classroom observation for their nonverbal child after being denied access; a community member read district visitor policy and urged staff to follow existing procedures.
Two parents spoke during public forum asking the Owatonna School Board to allow a parent observation of a middle-school classroom after their nonverbal daughter repeatedly came home upset and asked them to call police.
"My daughter is a special ed student at the middle school. She has been coming home quite distraught," Sarah Chandler told the board, saying district staff denied her request to visit her daughter's classroom. "I was told it was against policy, which is not a true statement," she said, asking the district to ensure her daughter is not discriminated against because of special needs and to work with parents on a plan to support the student.
Jeff Chandler, who identified himself as the father of Isabella Chandler, also addressed the board and asked that a parent be permitted to visit a room for a couple of hours so the family can understand what is happening. He referenced Minnesota Board of Education policies that allow certain observations and urged the board to consider the request.
Community member April St. Martin then read the districts visitors policy (policy 903) into the record, pointing out the policy "welcomes visits to the buildings and school property by parents and community members, provided the visits are consistent with the health, education, and the safety of the students and employees," and noting the policy requires parents to schedule classroom observations in advance with the classroom teacher or building principal. St. Martin urged the board to follow its established procedures and to respond to the Chandler family's communications.
Board members acknowledged the concerns, asked about documentary notes provided by the parent (a medical note was mentioned), and said staff would take the matter under advisement as they follow policy and safety protocols.
What happens next: Board members and staff signaled intent to review the family's request under district visitor procedures; no formal action was taken at the meeting.
