Parent tells board district denied transportation for son with disability, urges action

Emmanuel Santos Duarte told the Suffern Central School District Board of Education on Dec. 17 that his son has been repeatedly denied transportation services the district’s pupil-personnel office has already deemed essential for the student’s safety. “They have no evidence, no justification, and yet they continue to deny my son the transportation services that is absolutely necessary for his safety,” he said.

Duarte identified himself as the father of a sophomore and accused the superintendent, the assistant superintendent for finance and the director of safety at Chesner Ridge Transportation of "resistant deception and outright disregard" in handling his requests. He said district staff have given him silence and evasion when he asked for documentary proof and that he has proposed more than five solutions that were dismissed. “Why is my son's disability being treated as less important?” he asked, and added: “Is it because of his race or is it because of his religion?”

Why it matters: Duarte’s remarks allege the district denied services that he says pupil-personnel has already identified as necessary; he urged the board to require documentary proof and to hold district leaders accountable if the situation is not corrected.

The board did not record a public response from the superintendent or staff during the comment period. The chair closed the public-comment segment after Duarte’s remarks; administrators delivered closing holiday remarks later in the meeting but did not announce any immediate remedial action on the record. Duarte said he expects the board to act and that he will hold it responsible if his son’s safety remains at risk.

The meeting record does not show a staff rebuttal or a board directive to investigate during the Dec. 17 session. The next board meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.