GUILTY CO - 1 dead, 8 injured, shots fired at STEM School in Highlands Ranch, 7 May 2019

[human]

Public schools can and do kick out any student for failing to abide by the rules in the student handbook. That's why there are alternative high schools. Kids in our area who have posted threats on social media have been arrested. If their kids or parents report bullying, it is investigated.

Instead of acting on the letter by the concerned parent about bullying and violence, the STEM school filed a lawsuit against the messenger. I have to wonder if the school board is elected or appointed because in this case leadership failed to protect these students.

JMO

Kids who have a diagnosed disability fit under a whole new set of rules.

Kicking kids out of poor and low income schools is easier because parents don’t have attorneys

 

[MyBelle]

This has been going on since the law for educating all children. PL 94-142. I forget which year and too lazy to look but it has been decades. This is not a new issue.

Kids used to be in institutions and not in school. That law made it so kids were in school in the least restrictive environment. The most intense level is a residential treatment place.

It is much cheaper to have kids mainstreamed in school so taxpayers have gone right along with it.

If a school wants to expel a child, it could be a court battle with wealthy parents. So if someone goes to a wealthy school, it is more difficult to remove a child.

Parents who do not like the diagnosis that a public school gives go shopping in the private school situation thinking that the public school is wrong.

If the private school needs money, they will keep difficult children esp if the parent may be wealthy.

Because of privacy laws, people have no clue what kid’s behavior is like.

With the family dysfunctions of so many kinds, kids are having a lot of issues. I think there is a lot more alcoholism and drug usage nowadays.

Public schools are government institutions so filing a lawsuit because a kid is expelled for something like bullying would be pretty much useless because a school does have a duty to protect the safety of students. In this case, students have said one of the shooters was a bully.

JMO
Suspected Colorado STEM shooter joked about school shootings, students say

 

[MyBelle]

Kids who have a diagnosed disability fit under a whole new set of rules.

Kicking kids out of poor and low income schools is easier because parents don’t have attorneys

Is there evidence the shooters in this case have a diagnosed disability? I haven't seen it but have read media articles quoting other students who call at least one of the shooters a known bully.

Even if the kid has a diagnosed disability, they can still be kicked out of school if they don't follow the rules in the school's handbook. Bullying isn't permitted in our schools. Our high schools require students and parents to sign a form which is placed in their school records. That signed form protects the school from lawsuits.

JMO

 

[mickey2942]

@MyBelle With students who are covered under IDEA, there are a whole different set of rules. Law books, full of rules. Free and appropriate education.

It is a "Gordian knot" of slippery slopes, justifications. It is not that cut and dried.

 

[MyBelle]

<modsnip: quoted post was removed>

Our alternative high school is part of our public school system. It's for students who have been expelled from other district high schools. Students do have a right to free public high school education but they do have to follow the rules. I'm not sure it has anything to do with this case.

The STEM school has a duty to protect the safety of all students whether they have an IEP or not. The Stoneman-Douglas shooter was seen in the parking lot by a security guard yet he didn't call for a lock down. The school resource officer hid. That's totally unacceptable and the public outrage especially from victims and their parents is understandable. All schools should have learned after Columbine. Our school system sure did.

There will be lawsuits filed by the parents of the STEM victims which will reveal the failures of the school which led to this shooting.

I want to know whether the board of STEM school are elected or are they appointed by the school administration. The primary cause of school shootings by students has been because of people employed by taxpayers are failing to do their jobs.


JMO

 

[kaen]

Public schools can and do kick out any student for failing to abide by the rules in the student handbook. That's why there are alternative high schools. Kids in our area who have posted threats on social media have been arrested. If their kids or parents report bullying, it is investigated.

Instead of acting on the letter by the concerned parent about bullying and violence, the STEM school filed a lawsuit against the messenger. I have to wonder if the school board is elected or appointed because in this case leadership failed to protect these students.

JMO

In our schools, it is not that easy. It doesn't really make sense to go point by point about how systems do things. I can say that there is no simple "if you don't follow the rules you are gone" for any student as there have to be steps for remediating the issue, unless we are talking about fire arms or other weapons. Students in my district are regularly charged with crimes and come back. Students with IEPs have a very different experience, especially if their actions are considered to be related to their disability (Manifestation Determination). If the behavior is related to the disability the consequences cannot be what is set out by the district. Here is a link to determining Manifestation Determination, which is required by IDEA: https://www.achieva.info/files/Resources/Education/Manifestation_Determination.pdf

 

[MyBelle]

@MyBelle With students who are covered under IDEA, there are a whole different set of rules. Law books, full of rules. Free and appropriate education.

It is a "Gordian knot" of slippery slopes, justifications. It is not that cut and dried.

I think you and I are talking about two different issues. Parents of STEM students have complained about lack of special education services, including emotional support for students. Some have said they left the school because they feared for their safety because of harassment and bullying. Parents have filed lawsuits.

The two shooters didn't just wake up one day and decide to kill people. They had to be displaying signs. Several students describe one as a known bully.

JMO

Over an 18-month period, the school has been the subject of six complaints related to classroom accommodations and support for students with learning and emotional issues brought to either the federal Office of Civil Rights or the Colorado Department of Education.
STEM School Parents Warned The District Of Their Security Concerns Months Before Shooting

Are you in a well to do school district? My school district had the well to do school and kids were not kicked out. Parents could afford lawyers and would use them. One case could require the principal to be involved with litigation for weeks.

It is easier to kick kids out of middle and low income schools

Our school district expels kids of wealthy parents for disciplinary problems all the time. Public schools can't be sued if they have grounds for expelling a student and followed due process. The school has a legal duty to protect the safety of all students. Wealth of their parents has nothing to do with it. The Douglas County School District policies make it very clear.

Conduct which disrupts or threatens to disrupt the operation of a school, which interferes in any way with the rights and privileges of other students or citizens, which endangers the health or safety of any person, or which damages property, will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action. All employees of the District shall be expected to share responsibility for supervising behavior of students and for seeing that students abide by the established rules of conduct.This policy JIC/JICDA, all of its subcodes, and any corresponding regulations approved by the Board shall constitute the student conduct code for the District.

https://rxpi.dcsdk12.org/UserFiles/...sibilities/DCSD Code of Conduct 2018-2019.pdf

 

[human]

From an article posted by Mybelle—

But number of claims from other parents raised a red flag from the district. The district wrote a letter to the school, concerned about the cost to the district to defend the school against the various disputes STEM engaged in over students with special needs.

A district letter to STEM states that since July 1, 2017, legal fees incurred by the district on STEM’s behalf total $52,384 plus the one settlement agreement costing the district $13,000. It said the school is responsible for paying those fees, and that the fees are anticipated to increase and the district is seeking reimbursement.

 

[mickey2942]

@MyBelle Believe me, you are preaching to the choir here! I got fed up with the whole mess, and much of it is political. Which is why I left teaching.

The problems are rampant, and rarely solved. I really wonder about public education when they scream there is "NO money" for school counselors, and social workers, while they sit in a marble office building that is an absolute edifice to corporate opulence. With armed guards! No students, no parents, but armed guards you had to show your badge to, before being allowed in the marble elevator, only if you had an appointment!

I have seen budgets for computers, flat screen TVs, travel to networking conferences, new office furniture, that was literally millions of dollars, none of which was directly involved in student education. That stuff is for people, most of whom have NEVER been in a classroom, but they hold the purse strings.

Meanwhile, I had to try to close out a budget in April, and figure out if I had enough toilet paper for the school until June. Forget about budgeting for security! I feel for teachers and administrators now.

 

[human]

I think the cheating scandal that Lori Laughlin is in reveals how the well to do have different rules

 

[human]

@MyBelle Believe me, you are preaching to the choir here! I got fed up with the whole mess, and much of it is political. Which is why I left teaching.

The problems are rampant, and rarely solved. I really wonder about public education when they scream there is "NO money" for school counselors, and social workers, while they sit in a marble office building that is an absolute edifice to corporate opulence.

I have seen budgets for computers, flat screen TVs, travel to networking conferences, new office furniture, that was literally millions of dollars, none of which was directly involved in student education. That stuff is for people, most of whom have NEVER been in a classroom, but they hold the purse strings.

Meanwhile, I had to try to close out a budget in April, and figure out if I had enough toilet paper for the school until June. Forget about budgeting for security! I feel for teachers and administrators now.

Apparently that is fine with your community. That would never fly where I lived. People were looking at budgets with fine tooth combs.

 

[mickey2942]

Apparently that is fine with your community. That would never fly where I lived. People were looking at budgets with fine tooth combs.

When you work in one of the largest school districts in the United States, the money is placed in different funds...no one really sees the whole picture. Those that do, don't say much.

 

[MyBelle]

In our schools, it is not that easy. It doesn't really make sense to go point by point about how systems do things. I can say that there is no simple "if you don't follow the rules you are gone" for any student as there have to be steps for remediating the issue, unless we are talking about fire arms or other weapons. Students in my district are regularly charged with crimes and come back. Students with IEPs have a very different experience, especially if their actions are considered to be related to their disability (Manifestation Determination). If the behavior is related to the disability the consequences cannot be what is set out by the district. Here is a link to determining Manifestation Determination, which is required by IDEA: https://www.achieva.info/files/Resources/Education/Manifestation_Determination.pdf

The law is the law. Even if a student's behavior is related to a disability, that student must be closely supervised while in public school in order to protect other students. The STEM students say they were bullied and harassed. They have a right to feel safe in their school. In this case, the parents had complained to STEM officials about very real safety issues six months ago and nothing was done. The School District also had concerns because parents of STEM students were filing lawsuits. Only STEM school was receiving these lawsuits. I believe there will be a federal and state criminal investigation into the School's "volunteer" board and the administrators to find out why these federally-required student services weren't being provided by the school.

JMO

Earlier this year, STEM School Highlands Ranch applied for a 5-year renewal of its charter contract. The Douglas County School Board only offered three years and a made a list of required improvements including an improved communications pathway for parents and students to lodge complaints.

An online web petition was started. It cites several civil rights lawsuits filed against the STEM School while calling for the termination of STEM's current charter board president and executive director.

The history of STEM School Highlands Ranch

 

[MyBelle]

@MyBelle Believe me, you are preaching to the choir here! I got fed up with the whole mess, and much of it is political. Which is why I left teaching.

The problems are rampant, and rarely solved. I really wonder about public education when they scream there is "NO money" for school counselors, and social workers, while they sit in a marble office building that is an absolute edifice to corporate opulence. With armed guards! No students, no parents, but armed guards you had to show your badge to, before being allowed in the marble elevator, only if you had an appointment!

I have seen budgets for computers, flat screen TVs, travel to networking conferences, new office furniture, that was literally millions of dollars, none of which was directly involved in student education. That stuff is for people, most of whom have NEVER been in a classroom, but they hold the purse strings.

Meanwhile, I had to try to close out a budget in April, and figure out if I had enough toilet paper for the school until June. Forget about budgeting for security! I feel for teachers and administrators now.

I hear ya but STEM claims it has sufficient social workers and resources and denies there is any problem at all.

I have a real problem in that some students have higher priority for enrollment if they are children of the "founders." That is a huge red flag that indicates the investigators need to follow the money at that school.

Priority will be given in this order: Founding families first, followed by siblings of current STEM students and employees.

Enrollment Process – Prospective Enrollment – STEM School Highlands Ranch

 

[MyBelle]

When you work in one of the largest school districts in the United States, the money is placed in different funds...no one really sees the whole picture. Those that do, don't say much.

That's because they are politicians and they don't want to raise property taxes.

 

[MyBelle]

When you work in one of the largest school districts in the United States, the money is placed in different funds...no one really sees the whole picture. Those that do, don't say much.

From the online petition, that sounds like what happened at STEM. It had a volunteer board that apparently rubber-stamped whatever the administrator wanted.

FAILURE to manage a fiscally conservative budget as the STEM Board approved an exorbitant salary of $278,000.00 with a bonus in 2017 of $55,600.00 for the STEM Executive Director.

Sign Petition: Save the STEM School Highlands Ranch Charter

 

[Sillybilly]

Please get back to discussing THIS case rather than derailing the thread with talk of school budgets, politics, wealthy parents, etc.

 

[SouthAussie]

Last shooting victim has been released from hospital ......


The last of five children shot last week at STEM School Highlands Ranch and treated at Littleton Adventist Hospital was discharged Sunday, hospital officials said. No other students remain in the hospital, officials said.
STEM School shooting victim discharged from Littleton hospital – The Denver Post

 

[SouthAussie]

"The one thing that I wish I could have done was to have been there to take away that pain for them, and cover their eyes, and shield their ears from having to go through that."

Woman starts petition to honor STEM School heroes at ESPY Awards

"The petition is to honour Brendan Bialy, Josh Jones, and Kendrick Castillo with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The award, given at the ESPY, is to honour strength and courage in the face of peril, and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter the cost."

 

[K_Z]

Kendrick Castillo's funeral celebration of life is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th, at 1:00 pm. I hope that thousands will attend to celebrate this brave and humble young man, and show support and love to his family.

A celebration of life has been scheduled for Wednesday for Kendrick Castillo, the STEM School Highlands Ranch student who threw himself at a shooter to save his fellow classmates.

Kendrick Castillo (Photo courtesy of Maria Castillo via Instagram)
The memorial will take place at 1 p.m. at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd., in Highlands Ranch. The celebration of life is open to the public, according to church officials.

Kendrick Castillo, STEM shooting victim, celebration of life planned

It's so achingly unfair and deeply painful that the murderers are alive and well, planning their defense, and the devastated family of this honorable, exemplary young man is planning his funeral. This young man should be ironing his graduation gown, planning his graduation celebration, looking forward with excitement to his college transition. So deeply sad, and frustrating.