Fulton County Schools offered hush money to keep student abuse secret

Bombshell testimony in Garrett Lee’s Due Process Hearing today.

 

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"There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people." ---- Thomas Jefferson

“Refrain from Restraining, Secluding and Corporal Punishment & Aversives are Abusive and Dehumanizing” ---- Carol Sadler, Advocate

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CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED
Information contained in this communication is confidential and privileged. It is not meant to represent legal or medical advice, but rather advice given based on my knowledge as a trained Parent Advocate by the GA Advocacy Office, Council of Parent Advocates & Attorneys, CHADD, LDA, the GA DOE Parent Mentor program as an invited guest and the special education attorneys that I often work with on educational matters. Please do not forward without my permission.

 

 

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/23231159/mother-fulton-county-schools-offered-hush-money-to-keep-student-abuse-secret

 

Mother: Fulton County Schools offered hush money to keep student abuse secret

Posted: Aug 22, 2013 1:56 PM EDT Updated: Aug 22, 2013 4:03 PM EDT

By Jeff Chirico - email

 

FULTON COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

The mother of a disabled boy allegedly abused at a Fulton County middle school said the district offered her $200,000 to settle a lawsuit if she wouldn't talk about the abuse.

Vance represents three disabled former students of Melanie Pickens, a former special-education teacher at Hopewell Middle School in Milton from 2004 to 2007.

Pickens was arrested and charged with physically and mentally abusing her students by shoving them into lockers, screaming into their ears, passing gas in their faces and restraining and isolating them in the dark.

The school district settled one lawsuit brought by a former student for an undisclosed amount but according to Vance, Fulton County Schools has declined to offer similar settlements to other victims, which forces the families to take the district to court.

"The only people who are benefiting are the lawyers. It's ridiculous," said Mark Lee.

Lee's son Garrett, 22, can't talk and was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after spending three years in Pickens' classroom.

Lee said Fulton County Schools has refused to pay what he believes is appropriate therapy to help Garrett recover from the abuse.

"For the senior officials to be dragging their feet and not taking action on this and to help these poor children is crazy. The first thing we should be doing is, help the children. They are the ones who suffered," said Lee.

"I need professional help for him and I'm not able to give him everything he needs," said Shayne Lee, Garrett's mother.

In a statement to CBS Atlanta News, the school board said, "We take our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously. It would be fiscally irresponsible and a waste of taxpayers' dollars to accept legal demands that are far beyond what is appropriate."

Vance, who represents Garrett Lee, said his family is not asking for anything unreasonable and accused the district's attorneys of dragging out the process and incurring additional costs by refusing to allow previous testimony and depositions to be used in an upcoming hearing.

"Even if they didn't want to agree that they owed this child any education, if they wouldn't fight the facts that are already known we would probably save $400,000," said Vance.

In a court hearing next week, the school district will argue that Lee's suit should be dismissed because it was filed outside the statute of limitations.

Vance told CBS Atlanta News that the district is mistaken and pointed out the district still has not notified parents of the alleged abuse that occurred more than six years ago.

A hearing on Pickens' criminal charges is scheduled for January.

Here is the full statement provided by the Fulton County Board of Education:

Fiscal responsibility of taxpayer dollars is always a priority for the Fulton County school board. The school board is extremely diligent and cautious about how funds are spent. If you've followed our recent budget season, you know that we adopted a new budgeting approach that closely aligns funding to district priorities – forcing staff to develop budgets from the bottom up and based on demonstrated need rather than approving incremental increases or decreases. We take our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously. In regards to the legal matter you referenced, we are obligated to follow a process to determine what's appropriate. It would be fiscally irresponsible and a waste of taxpayers' dollars to accept legal demands that are far beyond what is appropriate.

Copyright 2013 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation).  All rights reserved.

"I guess that would be considered hush money," said Judy Marshall, whose son Jake attended Hopewell Middle School in Milton from 2004 to 2007. 

Marshall said she turned down the deal to protect other students.

"I don't want this to happen to some other child and if nothing is done to stop other events like this, that would continue to happen," said Marshall.

Former special education teacher Melanie Pickens was indicted last year on child abuse charges after a CBS Atlanta News investigation revealed the Fulton County School District covered up the abuse and Fulton County School police repeatedly failed to investigate it.  

A Fulton County Schools spokeswoman denied the district offered the Marshalls hush money. 

Marshall's attorney Chris Vance said, "the school district in informal negotiations offered to pay Judy and John Marshall $200,000 if they wouldn't talk about what happened at Hopewell."

"Its part of the larger scheme that Fulton County [Schools] has done in this case. Allow [the abuse], promote it and once it finally gets out, hide it, obscure it and try to ensure no one knows what they did," said Vance. 

After rejecting the offer, the Marshalls settled with the district for an undisclosed sum.

Pickens pled not guilty and is awaiting trial.

 

MOREAdditional Links

·  Fulton Co. Schools incurs $1 million in legal bills in student abuse case

"It's an abject waste," said attorney Chris Vance, of the estimated $1 million the Fulton County School District has incurred defending itself against lawsuits brought by former students allegedly abused by their teacher.

"It's one thing to litigate vigorously a case. It's another to abuse the entire process and that's what I believe the Fulton County School District is doing," claimed Vance.

 

 

Fulton Co. Schools incurs $1 million in legal bills in student abuse case

Thanks to CBSAtlanta for continued coverage in the Fulton Co. School District Hopewell horrific abuse and cover-up of a classroom of severely disabled children. 

 

Residents in Fulton Co., GA should be aware of the waste of their tax payer dollars…………..

 

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770-442-8357
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"There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people." ---- Thomas Jefferson

“Refrain from Restraining, Secluding and Corporal Punishment & Aversives are Abusive and Dehumanizing” ---- Carol Sadler, Advocate

GNET=GetNoEducation/Therapy=PsychoNOed=Jail without Jury or Trial=Imprisonment without Legal Representation

 

CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED
Information contained in this communication is confidential and privileged. It is not meant to represent legal or medical advice, but rather advice given based on my knowledge as a trained Parent Advocate by the GA Advocacy Office, Council of Parent Advocates & Attorneys, CHADD, LDA, the GA DOE Parent Mentor program as an invited guest and the special education attorneys that I often work with on educational matters. Please do not forward without my permission.

 

 

Fulton Co. Schools incurs $1 million in legal bills in student abuse case

 

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/23150465/fulton-co-schools-incurs-1-million-in-legal-bills-fighting-families-of-abused-children

 

Posted: Aug 15, 2013 5:51 PM EDT Updated: Aug 16, 2013 6:31 PM EDT

By Jeff Chirico - email

 

FULTON COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -

"It's an abject waste," said attorney Chris Vance, of the estimated $1 million the Fulton County School District has incurred defending itself against lawsuits brought by former students allegedly abused by their teacher.

"It's one thing to litigate vigorously a case. It's another to abuse the entire process and that's what I believe the Fulton County School District is doing," claimed Vance.

Vance represents three disabled former students of Melanie Pickens, a former special-education teacher at Hopewell Middle School in Milton from 2004 to 2007.

Pickens was arrested and charged with physically and mentally abusing her students by shoving them into lockers, screaming into their ears, passing gas in their faces and restraining and isolating them in the dark.

The school district settled one lawsuit brought by a former student for an undisclosed amount but according to Vance, Fulton County Schools has declined to offer similar settlements to other victims, which forces the families to take the district to court.

"The only people who are benefiting are the lawyers. It's ridiculous," said Mark Lee.

Lee's son Garrett, 22, can't talk and was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after spending three years in Pickens' classroom.

Lee said Fulton County Schools has refused to pay what he believes is appropriate therapy to help Garrett recover from the abuse.

"For the senior officials to be dragging their feet and not taking action on this and to help these poor children is crazy. The first thing we should be doing is, help the children. They are the ones who suffered," said Lee.

"I need professional help for him and I'm not able to give him everything he needs," said Shayne Lee, Garrett's mother.

In a statement to CBS Atlanta News, the school board said, "We take our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously. It would be fiscally irresponsible and a waste of taxpayers' dollars to accept legal demands that are far beyond what is appropriate."

Vance, who represents Garrett Lee, said his family is not asking for anything unreasonable and accused the district's attorneys of dragging out the process and incurring additional costs by refusing to allow previous testimony and depositions to be used in an upcoming hearing.

"Even if they didn't want to agree that they owed this child any education, if they wouldn't fight the facts that are already known we would probably save $400,000," said Vance.

In a court hearing next week, the school district will argue that Lee's suit should be dismissed because it was filed outside the statute of limitations.

Vance told CBS Atlanta News that the district is mistaken and pointed out the district still has not notified parents of the alleged abuse that occurred more than six years ago.

A hearing on Pickens' criminal charges is scheduled for January.

Here is the full statement provided by the Fulton County Board of Education:

Fiscal responsibility of taxpayer dollars is always a priority for the Fulton County school board. The school board is extremely diligent and cautious about how funds are spent. If you've followed our recent budget season, you know that we adopted a new budgeting approach that closely aligns funding to district priorities – forcing staff to develop budgets from the bottom up and based on demonstrated need rather than approving incremental increases or decreases. We take our responsibility to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously. In regards to the legal matter you referenced, we are obligated to follow a process to determine what's appropriate. It would be fiscally irresponsible and a waste of taxpayers' dollars to accept legal demands that are far beyond what is appropriate.

 

ACT: Third of high school grads not college ready

SHOCKING??

Advocacy & Consulting Services - IEPadvocate4you
Carol Sadler, Special Education Consultant/Advocate
GA Advocacy Office PLSP I Graduate
770-442-8357
1105 Rock Pointe Look
Woodstock, GA 30188
CarolSadler@bellsouth.net
www.IEPadvocate4You.com
http://iepadvocate4you.blogspot.com

IEPadvocate4you also now on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter

https://www.facebook.com/pages/IEPadvocate4you-Carol-Sadler-Special-Education-ConsultantAdvocate/139597000964  

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 "There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequal people." ---- Thomas Jefferson

“Refrain from Restraining, Secluding and Corporal Punishment & Aversives are Abusive and Dehumanizing” ---- Carol Sadler, Advocate

GNET=GetNoEducation/Therapy=PsychoNOed=Jail without Jury or Trial=Imprisonment without Legal Representation

CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED
Information contained in this communication is confidential and privileged. It is not meant to represent legal or medical advice, but rather advice given based on my knowledge as a trained Parent Advocate by the GA Advocacy Office, Council of Parent Advocates & Attorneys, CHADD, LDA, the GA DOE Parent Mentor program as an invited guest and the special education attorneys that I often work with on educational matters. Please do not forward without my permission.

http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/education/act-only-quarter-of-grads-ready-for-all-subjects/nZTyG/

 ACT: Third of high school grads not college ready

By PHILIP ELLIOTT

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON —

Almost a third of this year's high school graduates who took the ACT tests are not prepared for college-level writing, biology, algebra or social science classes, according to data the testing company released Wednesday.

The company's annual report also found a gap between students' interests now and projected job opportunities when they graduate, adding to the dire outlook for the class of 2013.

"The readiness of students leaves a lot to be desired," said Jon Erickson, president of the Iowa-based company's education division.

The ACT reported that 31 percent of all high school graduates tested were not ready for any college coursework requiring English, science, math or reading skills. The other 69 percent of test takers met at least one of the four subject-area standards.

Just a quarter of this year's high school graduates cleared the bar in all four subjects, demonstrating the skills they'll need for college or a career, according to company data. The numbers are even worse for black high school graduates: Only 5 percent were deemed fully ready for life after high school.

The report's findings suggest that many students will struggle when they arrive on campus or they'll be forced to take remedial courses — often without earning credits — to catch their peers.

The data reveal a downturn in overall student scores since 2009. Company officials attribute the slide to updated standards and more students taking the exams — including many with no intention of attending two- or four-year colleges.

In terms of careers, the report found a chasm between what students want to study and where they might find jobs down the road. ACT compared federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projections with their own questionnaires and found insufficient student interest in the five fastest-growing industries with workers who require some college.

For instance, the government estimates that 17 percent of job openings in 2020 will be in education fields but only 6 percent of test takers told ACT they wanted a job there. Computer and information technologies will account for 11 percent of openings in 2020, but only 2 percent of students indicated they want a career in that industry.

The government estimates 9 percent of job openings will be in sales and marketing, community services and management fields. ACT reports that 2 percent of test takers are interested in sales and marketing, 7 percent in community services and 6 percent in management.

The ACT report is based on the 54 percent of high school graduates this year who took the exams. Roughly the same percentage took the SAT — the other major college entrance exam — and many students took both tests. Those who took only the SAT were not included in the report.

Under ACT's definition, a young adult is ready to start college or trade school if he or she has the knowledge to succeed without taking remedial courses. Success is defined as the student's having a 75 percent chance of earning a C grade and a 50 percent chance of earning a B, based on results on each of the four ACT subject areas, which are measured on a scale from 1 to 36 points.

Of all ACT-tested high school graduates this year, 64 percent met the English benchmark of 18 points that predicts success in a composition course. In science, 36 percent scored 23 or higher, the benchmark for success in a college biology course. In math, 44 percent met the 22-point baseline to predict success in an algebra course. And in reading, 44 percent met the 22 point threshold that indicates readiness for an introductory social science course.

Only 26 percent of students met the benchmarks for all four sections of the ACT test.

Of the 1.7 million students who took the 215-question ACT exam, as many as 290,000 were within 2 points of meeting at least one of the four readiness thresholds.

"There is a group that's on the fence," Erickson said. "With a little further instruction or motivation, perhaps some additional remediation or refreshing some of their past skills, they may be able to achieve that benchmark."

When the testing agency broke down the results by race, fault lines emerged. Just 5 percent of black students are ready for college work in all four areas. Among American Indians, 10 percent are ready in all subjects, while 14 percent of Hispanics are ready. Pacific Islanders post a 19 percent readiness rate for all four subjects. White students have a 33 percent rate, and 43 percent of Asian-American students are ready for studies in all four subjects.

Students from all racial backgrounds did best in English and worst in science.

Some states and school districts have begun requiring more students to take the tests. About 22 percent more students took the ACT test in 2013 than in 2009. In the past four years, ACT has increased its share of the test market, climbing from 45 percent of high school graduates in 2009 to 54 percent this year.

ACT said it updated its benchmarks for success in reading and science this year to better reflect what students need to know. The percentage of students with reading skills needed to succeed after graduation slid from 53 in 2009 to 44 this year, while science readiness scores climbed from 28 percent in 2009 to 36 percent this year. Both differences may have been caused in part by changes in the benchmarks.

In English, readiness scores slid from 67 percent in 2009 to 64 percent this year. In math, scores increased slightly, from 42 percent in 2009 to 44 percent this year. The benchmarks were not changed for either of those subjects.