Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Sorry Mr. Jefferson

I answered the crap questions and I'm not a member of the school. I'm just a parent of a child in Pickerington schools. And yes, he attended Tussing Elementary the first year it opened. And yes again, I do admire and respect Tom Wilkinson.

This non-issue is no more about this child and her nurse regardless of how you're trying to spin it. This is about a parent and a ''nurse'' that clearly has an axe to grind with the PLSD. This is simply yet another case of, ''Wah, I didn't get my way so I'm gonna call the TV station and the NAACP!!''. Next you know Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton are going to rolling up to the school and condemning the entire district the fires of hades.

Let's face it. The most important factor here is the children and their education. All the children not just this one little girl. The school district is extending their hand by offering to provide a nurse. This girls mom and ''nurse'' need to shut the hell up, stop speed dialing WCMH and get back to the business to doing what is best for all the kids.

Life lesson - we don't always get our way!

Thanks for the clarification

I suspect the nurse has been disruptive in other ways as well. Tom Wilkinson is an excellent administrator with an excellent reputation. Every parent I know whose kid went to Tussing has nothing but glowing things to say about him.

It's unfortunate that some black parents in this district can't have a disagreement with the schools without running to the news stations.

They keep losing political and social capital each time they do.

Tom Wilkinson

Tom Wilkinson has the same type of support from his parents that Chuck Kemper enjoys.

Color is not be a factor in the unilateral support we have for our principal. You would see parents and teachers of all races coming out to support Tom if needed. Our kids and their educational experience is most important to this man. He will make the decisions - popular or not - to ensure what's best for the students in his building. The kids are first with Tom - anyone that suggests differently needs to spend a day at the school and see for yourself.



By Tussing Parent

Answers for you

Here's some specifics to your questions - just from a parent who volunteers in the school...

1. Who is paying for the private Nurse?

Not the district at this point, I believe it's Medicaid

2. How is she disruptive?

She is qualified to help kids medically, NOT educationally. She is NOT trained in special education methods for a variety of disabilities, like our teachers & assistants are required to be - I have heard that she has continually disrupted the classes giving advise, challenging approved methods, yelling at teachers, etc. She has no expertise to do this educationally nor is she in the classroom to do that.

3. Has this private nurse been attending this little girl in teh past at Tussing ES?

Yes, at least this school year along with another black nurse - they rotate every other day. The other nurse was not asked to leave the building so makes you wonder if it's racial - my opinion is it's not.

4. If so why the change of heart?

I think this has been building all school year. This is a nurse that brought Child Abuse charges against one special ed teacher & a special ed assistant. It was investigated by Children's Services & the Police - charges were dismissed - no abuse occured. The Assistant once cleared, resigned stating the stress was too much, even though she had done nothing wrong. The child was moved to the other MD (multiple disabilities) class at Tussing. The nurse has continued on her same path of interrupting the class, yelling at teachers, taking notes to intimidate them, etc. She is out of bridges & has burned them all - she had been warned to keep her concerns within the scope of her job, which she failed to do & has now been asked to leave.

5. Why can't the school nurse take care of the little girl? What makes a private nurse special?

Most school buildings only have a school nurse there part time to take care of the entire building. The school nurse has to be available to the entire population not just one child. With more staffing it would be possible, but it would be at the district's expense.

I am sure there is more to this than I know, but so far there's only been one side of the story told.

By Tussing Parent