Kody Townsend was just 10 years old when he choked on food at school and died. He was a student at Clissold Elementary in Chicago—and he had an Individual Education Plan (IEP) because of seizures and developmental delays. That meant he needed constant supervision. But no one was watching when it mattered most.

Kody’s parents sent him to school trusting he’d be safe. Instead, they got a call that he was being rushed to the hospital. He didn’t make it. Now, his family is suing Chicago Public Schools for negligence—and they’re asking for accountability so no other child is lost this way.

The school district has stayed silent, offering only a generic statement. But Kody’s death cannot be brushed aside. A child with known medical needs died on their watch. That demands more than legal process—it demands action.

We are calling on CPS to publicly acknowledge what happened, take responsibility, and commit to immediate safety reforms for students with IEPs. No other parent should send their child to school and never see them again.

Kody’s life mattered. His death was preventable. And his family deserves justice.

[Photo Credit ABC 7]