Colorado Springs School District 11 - Principal Cynthia -Martinez - Carver Elementary School Ripoff Unsafe learning environment Bullying goes "un-noticed" Colorado Springs Colorado
I am posting this for other parents to read and learn... The schools protect their own and it is prudent that you, as a parent, get everything in writing or record all telephone conversations and record meetings by either audio and/or video.
My daughter has had problem with bullying boys over the past two school years. The school's administration either lacks the will or desire to appropriately handle bullying situation. It is my understanding that there is "ZERO" tolerance for physical or verbal threating of violence. I understand that kids sometimes do not know the correct way to show their feelings but these physical attacks are NOT acceptable!
My daughter went through off and on bullying from a particular male student from 1st thru 2nd grade. In my daughter's 2nd grade year it became progressively worse. We followed the proper protocol of informing the teacher(s) and so forth. We also had early morning conference with her 2nd grade teacher(s), school phsycologist, Vice-Principal and Principal on this very same matter. I advised that my daughter was taught to respect herself and others but also to defend herself if absolutely necessary.
My daughter, up to this point, had reported all instances to her teacher(s) but it was not stopping the situation. At this meeting, the school staff proposed to "keep them apart". This consisted of alternating their respective stay in and go outside recesses and to change their seating arrangements. Myself and my wife DID NOT agree with this because they are both "paying the price" not just the one offender. The Vice-Principal Ferguson, backed by Principal Cynthia Martinez, advised us that if our daughter "retaliates" against the male student she will be suspended. My daughter was 8 years old at the time and just wanted protect herself, as she taught by myself and my wife. My daughter wanted to be able to protect herself as it was happening(definition of self defense NOT retaliation). The Vice-Principal even accosted me after the meeting and reiterated the same point again. We have empowered our daughter to use good judgement but also NOT to be a victim. We did go forth with schools action plan and the end finally came when boy moved away.
The current situation is very similar, another boy is physically hurting my daughter and my daughter CANNOT defend herself due to the threats of suspension if she does. We have made her teacher aware of the situation. The teacher has done her part by separating the kids, calling the boys parents, taking away the boys recesses and advising Principal/Vice-Principal. The physical confrontations are still continuing and I want this stopped for good! This atmosphere is not condusive for learning.
PART 1
Robert
Colorado Springs, Colorado
U.S.A.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
U.S.A.
PART 4
#7Author of original report
Thu, August 26, 2004
Here is their memos/emails back and the rest was via telephone and one meeting at the school..
Robert,
Thank you for your note of concern. I am forwarding your concern to Dr. Ron Wynn our Chief of Staff. Dr. Wynn is in charge of safety. You should hear from him shortly.
Norman Ridder
Thank you for your note of concern. I will turn this over to our security department for immediate review. We will also have our Deputy of Operations, Dr. Mary Thurman look into this. Safety is critical for all of our children.
Norman Ridder
Mr. and Mrs. Scott,
I will check on the status of the investigation tomorrow. Sorry about the delay.
Mary Thurman
Mr. and Mrs. Scott,
I should have some information to share with you next week. I understand that Sue Thomas from our security department conducted this investigation and will be back in her office on Monday. I need to get more information from Ms Thomas and will call you.
Sincerely,
Mary Thurman
Mr. and Mrs. Scott,
Will you email me your phone number or call me. I talked to Sue Thomas today and would like to talk to you more about your concerns. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Mary Thurman
520-2017 office
Nothing wrong. We've had new teachers meetings and principals returning most of the week. I talked to Cynthia on Thursday. She read the statements to me over the phone but I want to stop by Martinez and see everything. I plan to stop by Carver on Monday.
Mary
Mrs.Thurman,
Since our last conversation 8/10/2004..That upon our conversation that you would follow up and read Principal
Martinez's report datd 4/20/2004..We have not heard back from you..Is there something wrong?Waiting to hear from you.
The upshot of all of this,Pricipal Martinez and her superiors DO NOT want the truth to come out.Going back to all of the previous situations and especially this last inicident that Principal Martinez' investigation dated 4/19-4/20 and reported to us in person on 4/21 at 9:15am that the 2 boys did admit to her(per her report) that they did admit sexual harrasment topics(polite verbage) but now Mary Thurman says that the report now says it was a "he said she said" which before it the Principal Martinez with a witness of Sue Thomas, told us it was not...The report was changed between then and now (I cannot prove it)how it was changed the Principal can answer that question.The Colorado Springs School District 11, Carver Elemenatry, DOES NOT uphold their "ZERO TOLERANCE" for violence(verbal and/or physical threats, assaults, sexual harrasment), that is why we moved to another school district.
Robert
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Part 3
#7Author of original report
Thu, August 26, 2004
Ms.Thomas,
Per our meeting at Carver Elementary on 4/20/2004 at 9:15am with Principal Martinez,myself and my wife.We,as parents,are NOT satisfied with your assessment of this situation.
We understand that these are younger students involved but it does NOT make the findings of Principal Martinez's investigation any less disturbing!In our meeting,you stated in your professional opinion,you assessed this as a low level threat due to following:1)Very unlikely for these individual(s) to execute their plan(s),(2)these are younger students,and(3)and the school was handling the situation appropriately.We,as parents,DO NOT share your view on this subject.How could anyone say that these individual(s)could or could not carry out their plan(s)??The results of the the Principal's findings were reasons enough for immediate suspension(s) of the individual(s).
Since,you are assessing this as low risk and no furhter action is being taken,understand this,if there are anymore physical or verbal actions perpetrated against our daughter,by these same individuals,for the remainder of this school year and the next school year,we will hold you and School District 11 responsible.
Robert
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
U.S.A.
PART 2
#7Author of original report
Thu, August 26, 2004
The facts are that my child suffered undue bullying and threats of physical violence while attending this school and the local on-site administration (Principal Cynthia Martinez) and District 11 Security Analyst (Ms. Sue Thomas) has failed to protect and ensure the safety of my child while at school. As you well know, we are required by law to educate our child but when the school does not provide a safe and non-violent learning environment then we, as parents,must do what is best for our child.
I also request that you and whom ever else, review Principal Martinez's investigation dated 4/19-4/20/2004 regarding the last incident with regards to my child and two other classmates. Once you read the results of that investigation, by Principal Martinez, you will understand why
we removed our child from Carver Elementary. Upon completion of my own investigation, there are other students and parents dealing with the very same situation at Carver.
Dr.Ridder, you have very serious problems at Carver Elementary .
I highly recommend that a thorough investigation of Principal Martinez, Vice-Principal Ferguson, and Security Analyst Sue Thomas be conducted due to their inability to ensure a child's safety while attending school.
Robert
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
U.S.A.
PART 2
#7Author of original report
Thu, August 26, 2004
The facts are that my child suffered undue bullying and threats of physical violence while attending this school and the local on-site administration (Principal Cynthia Martinez) and District 11 Security Analyst (Ms. Sue Thomas) has failed to protect and ensure the safety of my child while at school. As you well know, we are required by law to educate our child but when the school does not provide a safe and non-violent learning environment then we, as parents,must do what is best for our child.
I also request that you and whom ever else, review Principal Martinez's investigation dated 4/19-4/20/2004 regarding the last incident with regards to my child and two other classmates. Once you read the results of that investigation, by Principal Martinez, you will understand why
we removed our child from Carver Elementary. Upon completion of my own investigation, there are other students and parents dealing with the very same situation at Carver.
Dr.Ridder, you have very serious problems at Carver Elementary .
I highly recommend that a thorough investigation of Principal Martinez, Vice-Principal Ferguson, and Security Analyst Sue Thomas be conducted due to their inability to ensure a child's safety while attending school.
Robert
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
U.S.A.
PART 2
#7Author of original report
Thu, August 26, 2004
The facts are that my child suffered undue bullying and threats of physical violence while attending this school and the local on-site administration (Principal Cynthia Martinez) and District 11 Security Analyst (Ms. Sue Thomas) has failed to protect and ensure the safety of my child while at school. As you well know, we are required by law to educate our child but when the school does not provide a safe and non-violent learning environment then we, as parents,must do what is best for our child.
I also request that you and whom ever else, review Principal Martinez's investigation dated 4/19-4/20/2004 regarding the last incident with regards to my child and two other classmates. Once you read the results of that investigation, by Principal Martinez, you will understand why
we removed our child from Carver Elementary. Upon completion of my own investigation, there are other students and parents dealing with the very same situation at Carver.
Dr.Ridder, you have very serious problems at Carver Elementary .
I highly recommend that a thorough investigation of Principal Martinez, Vice-Principal Ferguson, and Security Analyst Sue Thomas be conducted due to their inability to ensure a child's safety while attending school.
Robert
Colorado Springs,Colorado,
U.S.A.
PART 2
#7Author of original report
Thu, August 26, 2004
The facts are that my child suffered undue bullying and threats of physical violence while attending this school and the local on-site administration (Principal Cynthia Martinez) and District 11 Security Analyst (Ms. Sue Thomas) has failed to protect and ensure the safety of my child while at school. As you well know, we are required by law to educate our child but when the school does not provide a safe and non-violent learning environment then we, as parents,must do what is best for our child.
I also request that you and whom ever else, review Principal Martinez's investigation dated 4/19-4/20/2004 regarding the last incident with regards to my child and two other classmates. Once you read the results of that investigation, by Principal Martinez, you will understand why
we removed our child from Carver Elementary. Upon completion of my own investigation, there are other students and parents dealing with the very same situation at Carver.
Dr.Ridder, you have very serious problems at Carver Elementary .
I highly recommend that a thorough investigation of Principal Martinez, Vice-Principal Ferguson, and Security Analyst Sue Thomas be conducted due to their inability to ensure a child's safety while attending school.