PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A second grader in Pickerington is out of school Wednesday after the school's principal refused to allow her special needs nurse inside the building.
According to the second grader's mother, the girl requires 24-hour care and can't be in school without the nurse, NBC 4's Ana Jackson reported.
The principal at Tussing Road Elementary School refused to allow the wheelchair-bound girl's nurse inside the building, citing his responsibility to maintain a non-disruptive school setting.
''I will say I have the responsibility to the students, staff and the parents of our students to maintain a school setting that is orderly and non-disruptive,'' said Principal Tom Wilkinson.
Keira Holloway, the girl's nurse, said a doctor has ordered that she be with the girl at all times.
''I said to (Wilkinson), 'She has physician's orders for me to be her nurse,' '' Holloway said.
According to Holloway, the school's actions are retaliation after she reported an alleged abuse at Tussing Elementary last October, Jackson reported
The district said no merit was found in the report.
NBC 4 spoke with Pickerington City School's superintendent Dr. Bob Thiede and he said he supports Wilkinson's decision. He also said if the child wants to go back to school then the district will provide nurses.
However, the girl's mother said she should have a right to decide who treats her daughter.
''My daughter is familiar with these nurses and they're familiar with her,'' Charamelle Royal said. ''I have a right as a mother to choose what nurses me and my daughter feel comfortable with.''
A representative from the NAACP said she believes what happened in Pickerington is part of ongoing discrimination against African Americans in the district.
The NAACP said it plans to take further legal actions against the district.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
Reader Reaction:
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Posted 2007.02.28 13:32:06 by UofMInCbus
If the Nurse is a licensed practioner, then the School is wrong. Adults can sit still and keep quiet better than children. Children will quickly become accutomed to the presence of the nurse and find it not be a distraction. This is another example of the lack of rational thought in public schools.
Posted 2007.02.28 13:27:19 by PickeringtonMom
The school district has a RIGHT AND DUTY to deny access to individuals who are disruptive to other students, teachers, or the learning process. No matter what the NAACP thinks. The mother can find another nurse that she likes. Her daughter can also be tutored at home at the district's expense. There are other acceptable options available to this family.
According to the second grader's mother, the girl requires 24-hour care and can't be in school without the nurse, NBC 4's Ana Jackson reported.
The principal at Tussing Road Elementary School refused to allow the wheelchair-bound girl's nurse inside the building, citing his responsibility to maintain a non-disruptive school setting.
''I will say I have the responsibility to the students, staff and the parents of our students to maintain a school setting that is orderly and non-disruptive,'' said Principal Tom Wilkinson.
Keira Holloway, the girl's nurse, said a doctor has ordered that she be with the girl at all times.
''I said to (Wilkinson), 'She has physician's orders for me to be her nurse,' '' Holloway said.
According to Holloway, the school's actions are retaliation after she reported an alleged abuse at Tussing Elementary last October, Jackson reported
The district said no merit was found in the report.
NBC 4 spoke with Pickerington City School's superintendent Dr. Bob Thiede and he said he supports Wilkinson's decision. He also said if the child wants to go back to school then the district will provide nurses.
However, the girl's mother said she should have a right to decide who treats her daughter.
''My daughter is familiar with these nurses and they're familiar with her,'' Charamelle Royal said. ''I have a right as a mother to choose what nurses me and my daughter feel comfortable with.''
A representative from the NAACP said she believes what happened in Pickerington is part of ongoing discrimination against African Americans in the district.
The NAACP said it plans to take further legal actions against the district.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
Reader Reaction:
Post your comment. Click this link to post your comment
Posted 2007.02.28 13:32:06 by UofMInCbus
If the Nurse is a licensed practioner, then the School is wrong. Adults can sit still and keep quiet better than children. Children will quickly become accutomed to the presence of the nurse and find it not be a distraction. This is another example of the lack of rational thought in public schools.
Posted 2007.02.28 13:27:19 by PickeringtonMom
The school district has a RIGHT AND DUTY to deny access to individuals who are disruptive to other students, teachers, or the learning process. No matter what the NAACP thinks. The mother can find another nurse that she likes. Her daughter can also be tutored at home at the district's expense. There are other acceptable options available to this family.
