As most of you know by now, our district has let the special needs children down in every way this year. Specifically Waterloo Elementary.  Shortly after fall semester began, our children's special needs teacher resigned. a parent found this out from seeing the teacher in Walmart, after dropping the child off at school. This was the first incident, but would only be the beginning for our kids. To summarize, we have reached a point where we cannot sit blindly by and continue to believe Laurens District 55 will do their due  diligence. These are the facts. A child eloped more than once shortly after the fountain inn tragedy in our special needs community. The principal of the school failed to report this. This was NOT the only incident. After gathering information, many parents demanded logs from the classroom, of everyone who entered, taught, license held, training provided and dates of the training. when untrained, unlicensed people are allowed access to our children, this opens the door for terrible possibilities.

One of these possibilities did happen. a child was assaulted in a special needs room by a teacher going by a fake name who appears to be COMPLETELY uncertified, and was a contract employee hired by District 55. The incidents of FRAUD AND ASSAULT were reported to the principal.

The assault would take place on a Wednesday, but it would not be until Friday, that admin decided to inform the parents. 

Again, this principal failed to notify parents of the assault allegations, and even from the district admin.

School officials are required to notify parents the SAME DAY, and again, the Principal failed to do this. This proves a repetitive history of misconduct that has gone unpunished. 

 

Facebook messages obtained by parents, led to the investigation and arrest of the "teacher" accused of fraud, to again be arrested for allegedly assaulting a non verbal child. 

 

When a nonverbal child is assaulted, they cannot tell anyone. so we are their voices. 

parents asked for cameras in this classroom at the beginning of the school year and were denied. Again, we started a petition for the cameras. Admin saw this and has granted the request, but install will be delayed, which is equally infuriating after the trauma these children have endured. Much has come to light, and much more will come out. PLEASE help us get the support we need to keep our babies safe, and hold those accountable who are responsible for providing an education to ALL children. 

 

We are demanding logs of everyone IN and OUT of the classroom. We want certifications, licenses, and trainings the district provided along with the DATES the training took place.

Parents asked months prior for some of these. They were never given. Now, we are asking you help us get these. 

Its being told to parents that for this classroom, there was very little purchased for fall semester and that AIDES paid from their OWN pocket to supply the room and try and give the children the best they could. At one time, the AIDES were TEACHING the student. With no license, no training, and no support from the principal. AIDES paid out of pocket for materials and manipulative toys for the children, and while we thank them, we also say "shame on you" to the district for allowing this. AIDES were teaching classes with no planning period, no compensation for teacher pay, and from our understanding, not even a break. Its time to hold them accountable. 

We have the right to see for ourselves where the federal funding is being allocated, specifically as it relates to waterloo elementary special needs, so we would like to see a breakdown of what exactly was done with federal funding. 

 

We understand its Christmas break, but we have set back long enough waiting. If the proof is there, provide it. Because we will not stop asking.