Ellen
04-17-2008, 09:17 AM
(http://www.beatricedailysun.com/articles/2008/04/17/news/local/doc4804c07137923638444000.txt)
Students’ health issues brought to board
By Bill Hafer/Daily Sun staff writer
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 10:28:08 am CDT
The parents of two Beatrice Public Schools elementary students diagnosed with
diabetes in February discussed the issue with the BPS Board of Education
Monday.
Both sets of parents were told their children would have to change schools
and attend Paddock Lane School after their children’s diagnosis.
“We don’t feel it’s right for our kids to be forced to attend another
school,” Tami Helmick told school board members during their regular monthly
meeting Monday night.
She said on Feb. 27 her daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, and
after the diagnosis they were told she would not be able to return to her
school, Cedar Elementary, but would have to attend Paddock Lane.
“It was tough enough for her to find out she has juvenile diabetes,” Dan
Helmick said.
Tami Helmick said the prospect of not being able to return to Cedar was more
traumatic to their daughter than the actual diagnosis.
After keeping their daughter out of school for more than a week as they
attempted to find a way to keep her at Cedar, they were allowed to keep her at
Cedar but had to sign a waiver of liability for the district saying she can
self maintain her treatments.
The next day they contacted the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of
Civil Rights and filed a complaint, she said.
“We’re pleased she’s at Cedar,” she said, but they disagree with having to
sign the waiver saying their 8-year-old daughter can handle her treatments
herself.
Dan Helmick said the reason she would have to go to Paddock Lane if she
couldn’t self maintain is because there is a full-time nurse on staff there to
help her maintain, meaning make sure she’s getting the right carbs, checking
blood sugar and administering the right dosage of insulin.
After their daughter returned to Cedar, a paraeducator was hired to help her
with the maintenance of her diabetes, which has to be done several times
throughout the day, Tami Helmick said.
Dan Helmick said when their daughter was diagnosed they weren’t told they
had any options.
“Parents need to be informed of what options they have,” he said.
He said he thinks there are enough students at the elementary schools that
there should be someone at each site, not one at Paddock Lane and another
floating between sites.
Darryl and Jackie Reedy joined the Helmicks during their presentation
because their son had to change from Lincoln Elementary to Paddock Lane after he
was diagnosed with type I diabetes on Feb. 4.
“He was ready to get back with his friends and find some kind of normal
again,” Jackie Reedy said, but then he had to go through the additional ordeal of
changing school buildings.
She said it’s a terrible thing to have to tell a child that now they are
different so they have to go to attend another building.
Following the presentation, Board President Dave Niedfeldt thanked the
parents for coming to the board.
“At this point it would be inappropriate for us to take any action until we
hear from (the Office of Civil Rights),” he said.
Students’ health issues brought to board
By Bill Hafer/Daily Sun staff writer
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 - 10:28:08 am CDT
The parents of two Beatrice Public Schools elementary students diagnosed with
diabetes in February discussed the issue with the BPS Board of Education
Monday.
Both sets of parents were told their children would have to change schools
and attend Paddock Lane School after their children’s diagnosis.
“We don’t feel it’s right for our kids to be forced to attend another
school,” Tami Helmick told school board members during their regular monthly
meeting Monday night.
She said on Feb. 27 her daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, and
after the diagnosis they were told she would not be able to return to her
school, Cedar Elementary, but would have to attend Paddock Lane.
“It was tough enough for her to find out she has juvenile diabetes,” Dan
Helmick said.
Tami Helmick said the prospect of not being able to return to Cedar was more
traumatic to their daughter than the actual diagnosis.
After keeping their daughter out of school for more than a week as they
attempted to find a way to keep her at Cedar, they were allowed to keep her at
Cedar but had to sign a waiver of liability for the district saying she can
self maintain her treatments.
The next day they contacted the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of
Civil Rights and filed a complaint, she said.
“We’re pleased she’s at Cedar,” she said, but they disagree with having to
sign the waiver saying their 8-year-old daughter can handle her treatments
herself.
Dan Helmick said the reason she would have to go to Paddock Lane if she
couldn’t self maintain is because there is a full-time nurse on staff there to
help her maintain, meaning make sure she’s getting the right carbs, checking
blood sugar and administering the right dosage of insulin.
After their daughter returned to Cedar, a paraeducator was hired to help her
with the maintenance of her diabetes, which has to be done several times
throughout the day, Tami Helmick said.
Dan Helmick said when their daughter was diagnosed they weren’t told they
had any options.
“Parents need to be informed of what options they have,” he said.
He said he thinks there are enough students at the elementary schools that
there should be someone at each site, not one at Paddock Lane and another
floating between sites.
Darryl and Jackie Reedy joined the Helmicks during their presentation
because their son had to change from Lincoln Elementary to Paddock Lane after he
was diagnosed with type I diabetes on Feb. 4.
“He was ready to get back with his friends and find some kind of normal
again,” Jackie Reedy said, but then he had to go through the additional ordeal of
changing school buildings.
She said it’s a terrible thing to have to tell a child that now they are
different so they have to go to attend another building.
Following the presentation, Board President Dave Niedfeldt thanked the
parents for coming to the board.
“At this point it would be inappropriate for us to take any action until we
hear from (the Office of Civil Rights),” he said.