Parents urge Polk board to investigate alleged ESE service gaps and disciplinary practices after student protests
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Summary
Dozens of parents and community members told the Polk County School Board on Feb. 24 they believe students with disabilities are not receiving required IEP services, that some students suffered injuries at school, and that suspensions following walkouts were handled inconsistently; several speakers asked for independent review and district-wide audits.
Multiple parents and advocates used the Feb. 24 public comment period to request immediate district action on special-education services and discipline.
Maisha Reid told the board her nonverbal, medically vulnerable son returned from school with unexplained bruises and said she had not received incident reports or documentation after reporting the incidents to school administrators and to the Department of Children and Families. "My request is simple: transparency, documentation, and accountability," Reid said, asking the board to initiate an independent investigation.
Other speakers described suspensions and missed services after student protests. Carissa Olmos asked the board to "review and correct the excessive disciplinary action" taken against her daughter, Aviana, and said the code of conduct requires progressive discipline. Rosalinda Arsenaga said Spanish-speaking families received inconsistent information and asked for clearer communication and equitable notification.
Brianna Schmitz recounted a September 2025 incident in which her autistic son left campus and was found two blocks away; she said staff did not notify parents when the child was found and that the family learned of the incident only when the parent arrived for a scheduled pickup. "I am emotionally, mentally done allowing my children to be abused and neglected," Schmitz told the board, urging accountability for the school.
Victor Sims, a Polk County resident who described himself as a former foster youth who benefited from IEP services, urged the board to commission a district-wide audit of IEP delivery, establish written protocols for implementation, require real-time notification to families when services are missed and create a standing special-education oversight committee.
Several parents said they had filed complaints with state agencies without satisfactory resolution and asked the board to act proactively. Superintendent Hyde told the board earlier in the meeting the district is taking complaints as they come and said staff would address legitimate concerns; parents at the podium asked for stronger, systemic remedies rather than case-by-case responses.
The board did not take immediate action on specific investigations during the meeting; several parents indicated they would pursue further steps if they did not receive timely district responses.