Education Department dismisses civil rights complaint against Carroll school district
By Elizabeth Campbell
On August 2, 2023
Read more at: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article277907343.html#storylink=cpy
The father of a student with disabilities in the Carroll school district said one of the federal civil rights complaints that he filed was dismissed.
Ed Hernandez, whose son receives special education services, said he received a letter from the Office on Civil Rights stating that the complaint was dismissed.
Hernandez said he filed his complaint last year because his son was not getting required nursing services he needs to assist with an eye condition during summer school.
A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Education wrote in an email to the Star-Telegram that the complaint was “disability-related,” but did not provide additional information. Hernandez said he and his wife, Jennifer Schutter, were disappointed and they don’t know why the complaint was dismissed. “I feel it’s a mystery to me why it got dismissed,” Hernandez said. “I feel very disappointed. I feel there is no transparency from the Office on Civil Rights.” The Carroll school district did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Hernandez said his son cannot blink, and he wears a contact lens. He scratched his eye on several occasions, and Hernandez said a nurse should have been on hand. Hernandez said he initially complained to the school district about the “disconnect” regarding services when special education students were not getting the services agreed upon in their individualized education plans during summer school. He initially filed a complaint with the Carroll school district, but he said officials “didn’t seem interested,” so he contacted the Department of Education.
Hernandez said another complaint that he filed when his son was injured at school is still under investigation. The Office on Civil Rights is investigating seven complaints against the Carroll school district concerning discrimination and retaliation on the basis of sex, race, and disability.
This piece was republished from The Forth Worth Star-Telegram.