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Parent urges stronger special-education accountability after child's death
Summary
Danielle Johnson of the Shawnee District told the board she lost her child and called for consistent implementation of IEPs, better communication and training, and stronger safety and accountability measures for students with disabilities.
During the public-comment period of the May 19 meeting, Danielle Johnson of the Shawnee District addressed the board about persistent gaps in special-education services, student safety, and IEP implementation across the division.
Johnson said families in the community have reported inconsistencies in IEP implementation, communication barriers and a lack of accountability that she said leave students with disabilities vulnerable. "When an IEP is not followed with accuracy, students are placed at risk academically, emotionally, behaviorally, and physically," she told the board. Johnson added, "Families should not have to fight continuously for legally required services," and in a personal statement said, "my child lost their life."
Johnson asked the board to strengthen accountability measures, improve communication and collaboration with families, expand staff training on de-escalation and trauma-informed practices, and prioritize transparent reporting when incidents occur. The public-comment period concluded with the chair enforcing the speaking time limit; no direct board response to Johnson’s remarks is recorded in the meeting transcript during her three-minute allotment.
