Parents and students press Poudre board over bullying, special-education protections and alleged abuse
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Summary
Multiple speakers urged the board to retain IEP/504 protections in bullying response and to address alleged wrongdoing; parents described individual incidents of harm and called for accountability and residential placements where recommended by professionals.
A string of public commenters at the Poudre School District R-1 board meeting on Jan. 13 urged the board to keep and clarify protections for students with disabilities in the district bullying policy and to address individual cases the speakers described as unresolved by district processes.
Danny Lawrence told the board that proposed red-line language in the district's bullying policy removes a step that would convene an IEP team after reports of bullying involving a student with a disability. "By remove removing language to seed an IEP team to ensure FAPE wasn't impacted following the report of bullying for a student with a disability, you're hurting a population," Lawrence said, and added that he has two open Office for Civil Rights investigations with the district.
Several parents described personal experiences they said showed the district had not adequately protected students with disabilities. Alyssa Brown said a staff member "physically pinned" her son between a door and that he now requires a residential setting recommended by medical and educational professionals. "My son deserves access to an education that does not retraumatize him," she said.
Laura McWaters, who identified herself as a Fort Collins resident and longtime transgender person, urged the board to keep support visible and early for transgender and LGBTQ students. "Support and inclusion starts and lives and dies right here with you, this board," McWaters said.
Board members listening in the meeting discussion signaled concern about removing IEP/504-specific steps from the bullying policy; general counsel Autumn Aspen said she would bring revised language at the second reading and shared that the policy's redlines and an online survey are open through Jan. 19 for public feedback.
The board did not take formal action on any individual special-education placement or allegation during the meeting; several commenters urged the board to provide clearer processes and accountability and to ensure the district follows federal IDEA requirements where applicable.