RE: Parma district response and misrepresentations

[Guest guest]

Ms. Gulick,

Thank you for your response to my email. You are the only one in the

district that took the time to acknowledge my concerns regarding the

Winkelman family's plight and the actions that have and are continuing to be

undertaken by the Parma school district.

While you state that there are " always two sides to every story " I am most

certainly in agreement. The interesting thing is that a hearing officer

during the due process hearing heard both sides of the story on this case

and ruled in favor of the family. I think that says plenty. Ongoing

actions taken by your school district are unconscionable and a true

indication of the abdication of the Board's and Administration's fiduciary

responsibilities to the community at large.

I can only hope that the district will take those duties seriously and stop

wasting the tax payer's money. At some point the district needs to

acknowledge that this case has been going on far to long and borders on

retaliation, harassment and an abuse of power by the Parma school district

decision makers. It is far more admirable to recognize one's mistakes than

to continue on a path that only harms those that you are empowered to

educate and protect.

Thank you for taking the time both to read and respond to my emails in

support of the Winkelman family. And when it comes down to it, this is all

about the life and education of a child! That is what you should consider

as the basis for your decisions now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Amy A. Sosa

amy.sosa@...

Coppell, Texas

Re: Parma district response and misrepresentations

Hello Amy.

Thank you for your email lmessage. I wish that I could discuss the case

with you. However, I ccannot because of privacy issues. Just remember

that there are always two sides to every story.

Thank you, Rosemary

>>> " Amy A.Sosa " 03/10/08 1:24 PM >>>

Parma School Board Members and Superintendent,

The Parma school district's response to the hearing officer's finding in

favor of the Winkelman's leaves me rather astounded. It also leaves me

questioning whether you indeed do have the interest of the children and

community at the forefront of your decision making. It was apparent that

the district had a predetermined plan to fight all the way on this case

because of the response to the media before you could have possibly read the

full hearing officer's decision that was in excess of 200 pages.

The Parma school Board and Superintendent obviously are not upholding their

fiduciary duty to their constituents. Clearly the Superintendent's

statement to the press that " We're trying to balance between being fiscally

responsible and doing what's best for kids, " is far from the truth.

Taking the advice of your school district's attorneys recommending an appeal

of this decision is certainly one that would benefit the attorneys and not

the children that you are accountable to. Of course, the attorneys would

make this recommendation since they are the ones that will gain from such a

decision. That in itself makes one fully aware of what the district's

priorities are. Parma has been spending millions of tax payer's money on

legal fees to fight a family that would not stand by and allow the school

district staff to abuse their child rather than acknowledging your inability

to provide a free appropriate public education to the child.

It amazes me that the amount of money spent to fight this case. By taking

this matter so far over 5 years, that amount of money could have paid for

this child to be educated at his current private school which the district

initially placed the child in for years to come. Instead, I see a district

that has gone to great lengths to deceive the public and abuse a family

through retaliatory tactics. The actions of your board and the attorneys

that you have engaged have been nothing short of morally and professionally

criminal. And yet you will continue to fight a battle just to make a point

that you cannot justify.

It was stated to the news reporter that the district " expressed weariness

with the long battle " - then why continue? Take the high road and end the

battle. Do the right thing and concede that this child is receiving an

education that is appropriate in his current placement. Take responsibility

for providing this child with the continued private placement. In the long

run, that is the best decision and one that will benefit not only this child

yet every child in the district from a budgetary standpoint. Your own

Mission Statement includes " sound decision-making " . You should follow that

mission.

Parma school district has an opportunity to make a decision that would

turnaround the negative reputation it has received. Furthering this fight

against this family will only create more negative reporting by the media

which has gone national. And the responses by a particular school board

member to emails that have been sent by others regarding this matter are

being circulated far and wide. His contemptuous lies and misrepresentation

of the facts is quite telling as to his own particular moral character.

Hopefully the rest of the school board members will carefully consider

telling the truth and making the right decisions at tonight's board meeting

and end the litigation once and for all.

Our family had to go through a due process hearing very recently to end the

physical and emotional abuse of our own son at the hands of the public

school district staff that we entrusted him to. I know all to well the toll

that it takes on a family. And the damage done to our son is irreparable.

He will never be able to overcome what he endured over the past nine years

at the hands of educators.

I personally know the Winkelman's and am intimately aware of the details of

this case. I will continue to support them as they advocate for their child

and the impact that that same advocacy will have on every other child with

special needs.

I will be very interested to see what each of your responses will be to my

email. I hope that they will be ones that reflect your decision to make the

right choice and stop your ongoing battle against this family. You each

will be morally responsible and have to live with your decisions.

Amy A. Sosa

amy.sosa@...

Coppell, Texas