FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #34

[pingpong]

i am an educator and know that each school has their own discipline policy. The state leaves that up to the lea to decide because each school has their own issues they would have to address. Unless there is something really strange with florida law, i think it is safe to assume that each school in fl has their own policy. (for what it's worth)

thank you!!!!

 

[sellen75]

thank you!!!!

If you are looking for the discipline policy for this school, you can find it at:

http://www.clay.k12.fl.us/gpe/PDF/09_10_code_conduct_elem.pdf

Note though, that discipline guides are just that...guides. It guides the administrator on what action to take. It is still up to the discretion of the administrator though because the particular discipline that is listed for an offense might not work for a certain child.

For example...when I was an administrator, and something happened that constituted an out-of-school suspension but I knew if I sent that child home for a day or two, they would have no supervision and get into more trouble, I would defer to my "creative disciplining" and find what will work for that child.

Hope it helps to clarify.

 

[human]

If you are looking for the discipline policy for this school, you can find it at:

http://www.clay.k12.fl.us/gpe/PDF/09_10_code_conduct_elem.pdf

Note though, that discipline guides are just that...guides. It guides the administrator on what action to take. It is still up to the discretion of the administrator though because the particular discipline that is listed for an offense might not work for a certain child.

For example...when I was an administrator, and something happened that constituted an out-of-school suspension but I knew if I sent that child home for a day or two, they would have no supervision and get into more trouble, I would defer to my "creative disciplining" and find what will work for that child.

Hope it helps to clarify.

I am very impressed with how organized and thoughtful this handbook is.

 

[pingpong]

If you are looking for the discipline policy for this school, you can find it at:

http://www.clay.k12.fl.us/gpe/PDF/09_10_code_conduct_elem.pdf

Note though, that discipline guides are just that...guides. It guides the administrator on what action to take. It is still up to the discretion of the administrator though because the particular discipline that is listed for an offense might not work for a certain child.

For example...when I was an administrator, and something happened that constituted an out-of-school suspension but I knew if I sent that child home for a day or two, they would have no supervision and get into more trouble, I would defer to my "creative disciplining" and find what will work for that child.

Hope it helps to clarify.

Thank you again sellen...your information is very helpful.

Do you know where I can find the book that states the policies and procedures that school administrators and school board members are to follow? Are those that state statutes?

 

[ChickenPants]

this is the original article - the event was investigated in 2008 and closed 2 weeks later.

* By Jim Schoettler
* Story updated at 6:10 AM on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010
ORANGE PARK — A social worker at Somer Thompson’s school warned about the danger of the 7-year-old girl’s walks from school a year before a killer snatched her on her way home, state records show.
The unidentified worker told the Department of Children and Families that Somer and her three siblings got lost at least once walking from Grove Park Elementary School and were found in woods with a stranger. The worker indicated that Somer’s mother needed to pay more attention to the children’s safety and get them into day care at the school.

But a two-week probe by Children and Families concluded the allegation about the children getting lost and being found with a stranger had no basis. It also found Diena Thompson properly arranged for her children to be taken to and from school, about a mile away, and that it was acceptable for them to walk home when necessary. Day care was suggested to her as an option, but not a requirement.

The case was closed without any findings of wrongdoing, according to the records provided to the Times-Union last week.

Thompson continues to grieve over Somer’s Oct. 19 disappearance and slaying, which remains unsolved. She said that she has always cared for her children’s well-being and allowed them to walk home on rare occasions when she worked and couldn’t get them a ride. Somer disappeared on one of those days. Her siblings have received rides every day since, Thompson told the Times-Union Wednesday.
“I’m always second-guessing myself as far as them walking home, but I did what I could as a single mother with absolutely no help from anyone else,” said Thompson, 35. “Children should be able to walk home without being afraid of being attacked by a monster.”

Children and Families spokesman John Harrell said he couldn’t disclose by law who made the report and whether the agency had fielded other reports from Somer’s school. The school’s principal, Lynda Braxton, declined to comment.

Harrell said the case was handled properly.

“Our investigator did the right thing and went above and beyond ... by checking to make sure if these services were being followed up on,” Harrell said.

The social worker called the agency’s abuse hot line on Oct. 9, 2008.

“There is overall concern for the safety and well-being of the children,” the investigator wrote, based on the social worker’s statement.

Thompson told the investigator she was unaware of her children ever getting lost in the woods or being found by a stranger. Somer and her older brother told the investigator they never got lost. Somer’s twin, Samuel, said he got lost once, but gave no details. Somer’s sister was never asked. Thompson said a family friend had been transporting the children and that would continue.
Thompson also told the investigator the school suggested the children attend an off-campus YWCA day-care program. But she said it ended before she could pick them up from work and she couldn’t afford the cost of picking them up late.
Thompson was later told the day-care program was at the school and that school officials were trying to arrange for Somer to attend for free or at a reduced rate. She said she would consider the option, though the children weren’t sent.A Children and Families supervisory review of the case on Oct. 12 - three days after the initial report - states that the “risk is low” and that “the children are old enough to walk to school.” It also states that if Thompson can’t afford day care, she shouldn’t be placed in a “financial bind.”

Two weeks into the case, Thompson reiterated to the investigator that her friend was helping with transportation, “but on occasion the children still do walk,” the records show. The family friend told the investigators she had been transporting the children.

The investigator concludes that the “risk remains low” and that Thompson had been very cooperative.

“No services necessary at this time,” the report said.
Thompson said she is hopeful the public will not to use the report to criticize her parenting ability, a problem she had to endure from some people after Somer’s death.

“Walk a day in my shoes,” she said.
BBM
My question: Why was this given to a hot line and not LE? Children in the woods with a stranger doesn't belong with a social worker, it belongs and should be investigated by LE MY OPINION ONLY

MANDATORY REPORTING TO DCFS (NOT LE) FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT:http://www.dupage.k12.il.us/pdf/ModelPolicy.pdf

 

[ChickenPants]

The thread was pulled for review.Yes,she ran off.No one could have known that would happen.

Begging your pardon: The murdered knew it would happen. He watched her run off day after day, knew she would wander around, and positioned himself probably more than once to grab her when he had his chance, of which there were many.

 

[ChickenPants]

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/...d_somer39s_mom_year_before_death.html?cid=rss
ORANGE PARK (AP) - A school social worker reportedly warned a northeast Florida girl's mother about the danger of the child walking home from school a year before she was abducted and killed.
The unidentified worker told the Department of Children and Families that 7-year-old Somer Thompson and her three siblings got lost at least once walking from Grove Park Elementary School and were found in woods with a stranger. But a DCF probe concluded the allegation had no basis. It also found the girl's mother, Diena Thompson, properly arranged for her children to be taken to and from school.............................SNIPPED

Another news article based on the older report kindly posted above---
Really non-news in my opinion since the case was closed---
Allegation had no basis =was the finding.

This comment - made by several - that it was non-news, or inappropriate news or scandal news or news tipped off by a person with an agenda, apparently was not something the editor considered when he decided to print it and tag it with such a vivid headline. This is a highly respected newspaper. The murder has not been solved. Any news pertaining to this little girl and the tragedy that happened because she was caught alone and vulnerable is major news.

 

[human]

Thank you again sellen...your information is very helpful.

Do you know where I can find the book that states the policies and procedures that school administrators and school board members are to follow? Are those that state statutes?

Where are you going with this line of questioning, counselor? (I'm pretending that I'm on a TV Law show here.)

The reason I ask is because the policies and procedures are listed in the 22 page handbook.

I think if there is any specific thing that you are looking for that is not in the handbook, it would be referred to for review by the school district attorney.

If you are truly interested, may I suggest that you look up the Florida Department of Education on line. Then read through the hundreds of laws and see if there is something covered there in which you are interested.

There are also Federal Laws such as those covering discrimination (Happy BirthdayDr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!) and those covering students with Special Needs, and so on and so on, such as PL 94142, just to give a starting point for that one.

 

[sellen75]

Thank you again sellen...your information is very helpful.

Do you know where I can find the book that states the policies and procedures that school administrators and school board members are to follow? Are those that state statutes?

I'm not able to take the time at the moment to pinpoint the exact location within this document but each state has laws and statutes that pertains to K-12 education. This is everything from job descriptions of each school personnel to financial laws to school attendance.

Chapter 1003 of these statutes pertains to K-12 education. It is all sub-sectioned so you can look for exactly what you want to look for. What specifically are you looking for within these statues and maybe I can help you find it.

Here is the state site to find the info stated above.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Index&Title_Request=XLVIII#TitleXLVIII

Hope this is what you were asking for. If not, let me know.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

Begging your pardon: The murdered knew it would happen. He watched her run off day after day, knew she would wander around, and positioned himself probably more than once to grab her when he had his chance, of which there were many.

I think the murderer may have saw her walk by a few times especially if he worked on the house on Gano.I feel very strongly Somer was a victim of opportunity.I feel the murderer did not see this opputunity before.She may have went around or in the renovated house on Gano and talked with someone she very sadly trusted.Knew or had talked to before?

 

[human]

MANDATORY REPORTING TO DCFS (NOT LE) FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT:http://www.dupage.k12.il.us/pdf/ModelPolicy.pdf

copied from this report.

"However, any
failure of a mandated reporter to make a report may be subject to criminal
prosecution, license suspension or revocation and civil liability."

 

[ChickenPants]

If you are looking for the discipline policy for this school, you can find it at:

http://www.clay.k12.fl.us/gpe/PDF/09_10_code_conduct_elem.pdf

Note though, that discipline guides are just that...guides. It guides the administrator on what action to take. It is still up to the discretion of the administrator though because the particular discipline that is listed for an offense might not work for a certain child.

For example...when I was an administrator, and something happened that constituted an out-of-school suspension but I knew if I sent that child home for a day or two, they would have no supervision and get into more trouble, I would defer to my "creative disciplining" and find what will work for that child.

Hope it helps to clarify.

BBM: I hear you. Creative disciplining requires a real team effort.

I am going to safely guess that, in Somer's case, the administrator, the social worker, her teachers, and probably some other kids and parents, knew there was more than one "incident" - fighting or otherwise, that would be a reason to keep a close eye on this child. There has to exist documentation by the social worker of her concerns and Somer probably has a file. For no other reason, than if something happened to her (!) the school had a record that they did indeed adress their concerns.

If, for instance, the children were walking home with no adult regularly and possibly to an empty house, and mother did not put them in day care for reasons stated that she "couldn't pick them up" or whatever, OSS or ISS would be a problem. Absolutely there had to have been communication to the mother/family about her problems, concerns about her (age 6 or 7) running off unsupervised, ringing neighbors' doorbells, etc. DCFS was called. That is in her file, surely. Also, the fact that the mother chose not to address the situation.

The only way to deal with these children is a team effort which includes parents and other caregivers getting involved and working with a care plan. My son is a special ed. teacher here in FL and is on a "team". They communicate daily about all of the children. Believe me, he has called DCFS a lot; a male parent threatened to bring a gun to school and kill him. He has everything documented (thank God he is still alive)...

A child is not one child at school and another in home. She carries with her all of the issues involved. What happens at home affects the school and vice versa. School are not the parents, and ultimately are not responsible for the child once that child is off the campus. It is the parents' responsibility to follow up once that child leaves school, and to communicate with the school.

With the exception of busing, which social workers and teachers have absolutely no control over, it appears that Somer's school teachers and other personnel cared and did what they could. They couldn't control DT's decisions.

 

[ChickenPants]

copied from this report.

"However, any
failure of a mandated reporter to make a report may be subject to criminal
prosecution, license suspension or revocation and civil liability."

LATER EDIT:
Presently, there is controversy over FALSE REPORTING and things are liable to change. Because of the upswing of abuse/neglect/child homicide. It's a better safe than sorry thing. Better have false reports than no reports.

Kind of like people who call 911 because they can't get their remote control to work...they waste valuable time, but 911 isn't going to go off the job.

 

[ChickenPants]

I think the murderer may have saw her walk by a few times especially if he worked on the house on Gano.I feel very strongly Somer was a victim of opportunity.I feel the murderer did not see this opputunity before.She may have went around or in the renovated house on Gano and talked with someone she very sadly trusted.Knew or had talked to before?

And this person on this particular day just grabbed her in broad daylight and took his chances of getting caught with no plan?

Put this alongside the liklihood that a person had seen her wandering a lot, knew approximately where she would be, followed her, and killed her.

 

[ChickenPants]

It did not seem that Freed was on hand for the tete a` tete with the Times Union reporter last week.

Prob because it was not staged in Freed's house with professional make up job and Freed and Wife staring down from a warm and fuzzy family photo?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Begging your pardon: The murdered knew it would happen. He watched her run off day after day, knew she would wander around, and positioned himself probably more than once to grab her when he had his chance, of which there were many.

Cp: how do you know this?

How do you know the killer didn't see Somer for the very first time that day?

 

[Ms Suzanne]

And this person on this particular day just grabbed her in broad daylight and took his chances of getting caught with no plan?

Put this alongside the liklihood that a person had seen her wandering a lot, knew approximately where she would be, followed her, and killed her.

I feel she went willingly into or around the house on Gano and she sadly trusted this person.I don't know if she had talked to this person before.I feel Somer was a victim of opportunity.I feel maybe this person did not expect Somer to fight back as hard as she did if she did fight back.Maybe he did not mean to kill her.But I don't know about that.There may or may not have been sexual assault because she died in the struggle before that could happen.But I am leaning more towards there was sexual assault.I would say this was a disorganized killer.It wasn't planned.

 

[pingpong]

Begging your pardon: The murdered knew it would happen. He watched her run off day after day, knew she would wander around, and positioned himself probably more than once to grab her when he had his chance, of which there were many.

Are you assuming that this child in particular was targeted?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Ok well I'm not gonna try to assume that Somer was targeted. I don't think we have been shown any evidence that would back that assumption up.

I have no idea if the killer had seen her before that awful day or not.

But, I do know that children have been snatched in broad daylight before. Children have also been stalked and targeted. What happened that day? I guess we will have to wait for more news from LE.

 

[bkcrt]

Excuse the analogy but have you ever seen Wild Discovery on the Discovery Channel?

When the lion is hunting the gazelle he goes for the baby gazelle who is not by the herd. The baby gazelles that are within the perimeter of the herd and being protectively watched by the parent gazelles are offered more protection and are therefore less likely to be attacked by the lion.

I don't need to read any books, study any cases or watch any law videos to understand that.

Father in Heaven, Bless little Somer and please watch over her remaining siblings.