Shelli and William Sheridan’s special education 8th grader Michael was suspended from school because he bought candy from another student — a punishment the parents said “crushed” their son and made him consider leaving the school.
The parents showed up at Monday’s Board of Education meeting to make their complaint in public.
That’s far from the full story, said BOE officials, who were visibly pained at the parents’ testimony. They said a fair and sensitive resolution is in process, and the family has a meeting with the superintendent on Wednesday.
A systemwide evaluation of suspension policy is ongoing in the New Haven Public Schools, with various experts and parent groups being solicited for their input. Click here to read a previous story on the subject.
The Sheridans, residents of Derby and parents at Sheridan Communication and Technology Interdistrict Magnet School, said they went public with their story because of what they felt were inappropriate policies and inadequate responses particularly from the school’s principal.
The incident occurred, according to Shelli Sheridan’s testimony, on Feb. 26. The next day was an honors dinner, which meant a great deal to their son, Michael, and he was in danger of missing it. Sheridan said she talked to the principal, Eleanor Turner, and then to Deirdre Welds, a director of instruction, the same day. The suspension was reduced to one day, but it had to be served on the day of the dinner, which the child missed.
William Sheridan said, “Why couldn’t he serve it on a different day! Anyway, who ever heard of suspension for buying a candy bar? Why not detention?”
At the heart of the matter, from an institutional point of view, appears to be confusion on the part of parents, such as these, as to what offenses lead to what punishments. The Sheridans said they repeatedly asked for the student handbook or policy guidebook indicating that buying or selling candy was an offense punishable by suspension, and one could not be found or provided.
Deirdre Welds said she preferred not to comment on the particular matter of the Sheridans’ situation except to say the story as presented is partial, that it is ongoing, but that in her view proper protocols were followed and the child and parents were treated in a fair and sensitive manner.
Previous installments in the Independent’s series on parental involvement in local schools:
Parents Want Say On Suspensions
Son Gets Pills; Suspension Policy Targeted
Dad Goes To The Top, Gets Results
Parents, M&Ms Join In Math Lesson
Brandon Aims For The Blue Shirt
Night-Shift Waitress Hangs Up Apron
Dad Meets The Teachers. All Of ‘Em
Ms. Lopez Moves Brandon’s Seat
Night-Shift Waitress Gets Xena To Class On Time
Fifth-Graders Get “Amistadized”
Board of Ed To Parents: Get Involved!
Task Force Hones Plan for Kids
The New St. Martin DePorres Comes Home
Good-Bye Recess. Hello Take 10.
Unless the student was concealing a prison shank in the candy bar the punishment (suspension) is way out of line with the crime.
JMS