Angelo - I find it very sad that you HAVE to know all of this. In our area, I've heard over and over from friends that they have had to fight to get the help they need for their children who are deaf, autistic, etc. It seems a lot of our schools do not want to deal with any special situations to help the children achieve an education. They seem to be caught up in rules and regulations that they have written up in the student handbook and can't adapt to anything outside the ordinary.

 

I had a response written, but never mind. Obviously, the answers you're getting from the DOJ are different answers than the ones I am getting from the DOJ.

 

Lauri - Please don't mistake that I stated the fact that this is WHY schools often believe that Service Dogs are not necessary in the classroom with me supporting or not supporting Service Dogs attending school with children. I was only stating that this is the most commonreason schools give when they deny Service Dogs, that the tasks done by the dog can be done by an aide.

I think it's great that your sister and BIL's new family pet is able to do wonderful things for their daughter and I would have no trouble accepting this dog (and its abilities) in a classroom setting if the dog meets all the requirements for being a Service Dog - like being trained at least three demonstrable tasks and having been certified for public access.

It also sounds like your niece would have to be part of a three-unit Service Dog team with an adult there to handle the dog, rather than being able to take the dog herself, since the dog's trained task is to "Go Find Jane" and then the dog goes over and licks her face. She would not be able to direct the dog to do that for her by herself.

While I agree that every allowance should be made to allow her to have the dog with her, the attitude that the other kid can just transfer is ludicrous.

I do agree with this.

Especially in the case of Andrew Stevens (whom this thread is about, after all), transferring to another school may not be at all possible considering the school in question is the school on Fort Belvoir (military base) where his family is stationed.

 

No one should have to transfer schools over a service dog, class room changes sure, but not an entire school change that is just another example of an unfair accomidation to request of a school or another family for that matter.

While I believe and support your dog is doing great things, based on your information it does not constitute a service dog by school requirements yet.

Alaya, Andrews dog can 1 Activate a Device in a chest 2 make a Phone Call 3 Carry important medicine with her 4 Provides Mobility Support 5 Can Alert to a Seizure 6 can Stablize while in a Seizure (All Demonstrated incidently)

She only needs to provide 3 demostrable(sp) tasks but she can do 6, and we are of course training more and more as Anderw Progress's she will need to do more so we want to make sure we are prepared.

Abby is also right on 3 person team, someone will have to be the dogs handler, in Andrews case he has taken and passed the access test, I would begin working on that with yourself, child and dog, while it may not yet be a service dog, the dog can still be a service dog in training, and you might wanna start the access training now in addition to specific eating and bathroom times to instill into the training.

I wish you the best of luck and if you need any assistance, please contact me, this is very close to my heart for all people that require service dogs, thanks in advance.

A reminder for those that live in VA Candle Light Vigil Jan 6th, Falls Church VA contact me for details.

 

It's rather easy to accommodate the needs of any child who has an allergy. Place the children in different classrooms.

So, not only are allergies a non-issue in terms of addressing them, they are further, not the basis of the schools refusal to permit Andrew to access education.

 

It's rather easy to accommodate the needs of any child who has an allergy. Place the children in different classrooms.............

Allergies are NOT a non-issue to those who have them - they can actually be life threatening to some! And what if there is only one class for the particular grade - (I know - have the OTHER child switch schools OR how about home scholling?)

Whether the school board, who is charged with the safe education of all of the children attending school or who may attend in the future, not just with a few of them, uses this issue or not; it is, or could become, a very critical one.

BTW, just out of curiosity, I wonder what what you would have the school board do with a child who has a phobia about dogs - simply go to another school?

I just met a small child in our neighborhood who suffers this condition of being absolutely terrified of dogs due to an earlier attack by one.

 

I do hope the school board makes a favorable decision and that it paves the way for a more accessable appeals process for any future cases like this.

If the school board makes a decision against the child/dog I hope the legal appeal will correct any problems in the system.

 

If the child is in a different classroom, it's a non-issue.
The exposure at that point is no different than the child receives from encountering other children who have pets at home. Or do you also advocate all children who have pets being barred from school attendance?

If a child is that phobic of dogs, they needn't come into contact with the dog, anymore than an allergic child need do. The child with the service dog, and the child with allergies and/or a phobia, needn't share the same classroom, attend lunch at the same time, or share the same playground.

Why are you inferring that I would advocate any child being forced to attend an entirely different school? I'm stating the obvious- put the children in different classrooms, in the same school.

Aside from extremely rural areas, I find it difficult to believe there would only be one classroom for that particular grade. That certainly isn't the case in Andrew's school.

It if WERE the case, it is incumbent on the school to hire a second teacher and CREATE a second classroom, or provide transportation to another school, to accommodate one of the children.

 

If the child is in a different classroom, it's a non-issue.
The exposure at that point is no different than the child receives from encountering other children who have pets at home. Or do you also advocate all children who have pets being barred from school attendance?

If a child is that phobic of dogs, they needn't come into contact with the dog, anymore than an allergic child need do. The child with the service dog, and the child with allergies and/or a phobia, needn't share the same classroom, attend lunch at the same time, or share the same playground.

How the heck do you know (or even suggest) that they won't come into contact? Lunch, playground, entering or exiting the school, in the hallways, anywhere in and around the school - or maybe it isn't that important if it is not your child?

Why are you inferring that I would advocate any child being forced to attend an entirely different school? I'm stating the obvious- put the children in different classrooms, in the same school.

In other words, move the other child to accomodate yours - correct?

Aside from extremely rural areas, I find it difficult to believe there would only be one classroom for that particular grade. That certainly isn't the case in Andrew's school.

It if WERE the case, it is incumbent on the school to hire a second teacher and CREATE a second classroom, or provide transportation to another school, to accommodate one of the children.

Wonder which child you would suggest should move to another school?

BTW, isn't the child moving to another school exactly what you said above that you never suggested? HMMM!

Why not just admit that one feels that the school should do anything one wants for their child? It's a normal parent reaction for sure.

 

Okay, one- allergies aren't the reason Andrew is being denied his right to an education.

Two, I stated arrange transportation for a child to another school assuming there was no possible way to place the children in separate classes. I also stated the changes of it coming to that were absurdly low, as virtually no school in the COUNTRY has only one class for ANY grade.

When I said that I hadn't suggested moving the child to another school, that was because prior to that, I had not. You begin insisting that I was somehow saying that, and I gave the worst case scenario in which that could possibly ever happen.

How do I know they won't come into contact?
Don't put them in the same class. If a child is so allergic that walking down the same hallway past a dog that comes in no physical contact with them, is going to cause a severe, life-threatening reaction, then the child clearly should not be entering a school, period. Other students, who attend the school, own pets. They bring dander to school on their clothing. Are you now saying that those children should not be permitted to attend school, because they might pass a child in the hallway, who is allergic to the dander on their clothing? Perhaps owning a pet should prevent one from becoming a teacher, as well.

If a child has to be transported to another school so that all children can be accommodated equally, which child attends which school should be determined based upon which child would benefit the most from which school.

In a case where a child needs a service dog, and there is literally only ONE classroom for his or her grade in that school, I'd actually be more likely to advocate the child with the service dog being sent to a larger school. I can't imagine a school that has only one classroom has adequate supports in place to accommodate the educational needs of a disabled child.

However, I restate that the necessity for that doesn't exist in this case, nor would it, in most cases. No one is objecting to Andrew's dog on the grounds of allergies. There are more than one classrooms of Andrew's grade available in that school, if a child in Andrew's class DID have allergies.

 

Okay, one- allergies aren't the reason Andrew is being denied his right to an education.

Two, I stated arrange transportation for a child to another school assuming there was no possible way to place the children in separate classes. I also stated the changes of it coming to that were absurdly low, as virtually no school in the COUNTRY has only one class for ANY grade.

When I said that I hadn't suggested moving the child to another school, that was because prior to that, I had not. You begin insisting that I was somehow saying that, and I gave the worst case scenario in which that could possibly ever happen.

How do I know they won't come into contact?
Don't put them in the same class. If a child is so allergic that walking down the same hallway past a dog that comes in no physical contact with them, is going to cause a severe, life-threatening reaction, then the child clearly should not be entering a school, period. Other students, who attend the school, own pets. They bring dander to school on their clothing. Are you now saying that those children should not be permitted to attend school, because they might pass a child in the hallway, who is allergic to the dander on their clothing? Perhaps owning a pet should prevent one from becoming a teacher, as well.

If a child has to be transported to another school so that all children can be accommodated equally, which child attends which school should be determined based upon which child would benefit the most from which school.

In a case where a child needs a service dog, and there is literally only ONE classroom for his or her grade in that school, I'd actually be more likely to advocate the child with the service dog being sent to a larger school. I can't imagine a school that has only one classroom has adequate supports in place to accommodate the educational needs of a disabled child.

However, I restate that the necessity for that doesn't exist in this case, nor would it, in most cases. No one is objecting to Andrew's dog on the grounds of allergies. There are more than one classrooms of Andrew's grade available in that school, if a child in Andrew's class DID have allergies.

Understood!

 

Wowzers, but yeah Allergies and Fears are not a reason at this point, its all about the Certifications we have versus the Agencys they want us to go through for the same Certifications we already own.

Update we have entered a mediation phase now, and outside mediator is entering to be a outside the picture person to render a thought other then our own into the picture in a chance to fix this before it goes to trial, to which we agreed, we are bringing the Epilepsy Foundation, serveral doctors, legal, and parents of Fort Belvoir to advocate on our behalf.

We are all for settleing this without a nasty court battle that is clearly evident we would win, but we would rather settle it outside that if we can, however our stance has not and will not change, Andrew and Alaya will attend school, period.

 

Yea, hopefully you and them can settle it without you and yours as well as all of the other children being negatively impacted.

 

I am a huge dog lover. I also have asthma.

I know allergies are not the reason the dog is being denied.

That surprises me, really.

The kid that sticks out is the child with allergies so bad that their airway will become swelled and blocked, causing a life-threatening situation. Rare if even possible, but this is NOT what I was talking about.

I am talking about the three or four kids in ANY classroom diagnosed with asthma and other kids who are not. Kids that are high-functioning so to speak. They hack a bit, caugh, get stuffed up, not life-threatening for sure. But can it, will it effect their potential to learn.

I say it certainly does.

I do not think you can separate classrooms into allergy free kids and kids with allergies. As I said some of these kids are not diagnosed, as I was not.

The question is, how do you EVER allow a service dog?

Because WE are here. And we are paying for a safe learning environment as well.

Can they ensure that the dog is in a room without carpeting, and special cleaning etc, is done to ensure that the problem is minimized.

 

It's unfortunate, but unless we intend to eliminate dog ownership entirely, it's a reality of life. Even if we elect to ban all service dogs from schools, you still have the issue of dander brought to school on the clothing of other children. Police dogs entering the school.

 

Maybe we could start a different thread to discuss how schools could address the needs of children with allergies and phobias and still accommodate another child's Service Dog, since all it's doing in THIS discussion is adding unnecessary and irrelevant posts? Just a thought.

...

Also, in re: to one of John Stevens' posts above, "carrying medications in a backpack" is NOT considered to be a trained, demonstrable task for a Service Dog since it does not require any special training for the dog, nor can it be done on command.

 

Angelo =P But your right its not a task, however so I correct myself to 5, I agree also another thread needs to be discussed for schools and ideas for allergies, because its not an issue here and it needs to stop being discussed for this particular case.

For the record people allergic to dogs are allergic to hair/dander, even without a dog present, there is still far more dander going into every school then the amount that one live service dog would bring daily.

 

Mr Stevens, I am glad you have joined this group and started posting. The news stories, second-hand posts, and outright guesses on the situation made it look like you were just demanding everything without any regard for anyone else. From your posts it sounds like you are trying to use the tools that were built into the system to correct problems. I know you are all going down a rough path dealing with the school board which is nowhere near as rough as the path you have with the other parts of your lives. I hope you can have some comfort knowing you will make it easier for other people with similar problems in the future.

It sounds to me like the school is not working with you to develop a plan that will ensure the safety of the child. If they don't have your input they are missing an important resource for planning the IEP. They might feel they have taken enough safeguards but they should show you how they did that. Special needs education should also involve keeping you in the loop on decisions on the actions that are needed and it looks like they did not do that sufficiently.

Even if the outcome is not what you consider ideal, I hope they develop a plan that will work for your family.

 

Normally we try to pretty well let people wander off topic but this time I'm going to ask if at possible please let us stay on the facts and discuss those.

This case is getting national attention from many sources and could very well be a very important one that could have a contributing major impact on the future of SDs in schools.

And we are very lucky to have one of the major players here with us giving us some important updates that we would otherwise not have. So it doesn't matter if you agree or disagree but please lets take advantage of our opportunity and discuss what is going on in the SD world based on the facts pertaining to this case.

 

Follow up story on the Washington Post with several updates please feel free to repost,

Fairfax family fights for epileptic son to bring service dog to school

 

Follow up story on the Washington Post with several updates please feel free to repost,

Fairfax family fights for epileptic son to bring service dog to school

Thanks for the link. Very informative article - sure sounds like the paper is on your side from the tone of the article!

 

In Minnesota we don't have that problem. I know a girl that goes to school and has a service dog.

There are many allergens in schools including dust, chalk, powder of different sorts, etc... and those aren't banned.

The ADA is very clear that you can't discriminate against the disabled and they need to make appropriate accommodation for this boy and his dog.

 

I've reposted on my facebook. I do hope that things get worked out quickly.

I have a dog that has seizures and it is very scary to see him go through it. I cannot imagine a child going through the same. And to have a dog that can sense the emergency earlier than a human is critical. It is not like humans are going to watch in every single second of the day.

All this has to do is with a certificate and that makes no sense - red tape! ARGHHH - gets my blood boiling. The boy and the dog is trained!

 

I've reposted on my facebook. I do hope that things get worked out quickly.

I have a dog that has seizures and it is very scary to see him go through it. I cannot imagine a child going through the same. And to have a dog that can sense the emergency earlier than a human is critical. It is not like humans are going to watch in every single second of the day.

All this has to do is with a certificate and that makes no sense - red tape! ARGHHH - gets my blood boiling. The boy and the dog is trained!

And that means that the boy can certainly take care of the dog, and at the same time make sure that the dog doesn't bother any one else at the school, either students or teachers!

 

I thought the article in the Post was fantastic. This story is now being discussed around DC water coolers.

Almost everyone I have talked to thinks Fairfax is in the wrong. Let's hope they change their mind.

John

 

I have a small update, well large but heh, enjoy.

Monday (Tomorrow) The Today Show is doing a large peice on us, and more and this time FCPS has finally decided to speak (Prolly cause its a large news cast) I would watch, you will get both sides, clearly I am curious how they will explain how VDOE trumps ADA, should prove interesting Airs on Tuesday.

Also I thought about my last post, please see it below.

We started our epilepsy journey 4 years ago. At that time we were not aware Andrew was having seizures. The doctor ran extensive tests in 2006 and discovered Andrew was having seizures. Prior to that we, his doctor, and teachers believed he had ADHD, along with some minor learning disabilities.

I joined the Army in 2006 to find some direction and purpose in my life. While in basic, Andrew was diagnosed with LGS (Lennox Gastaut Syndrome). We were not ready or prepared for this diagnosis. My wife, Nancy, handled things for several months while Andrew slipped further and further away from us.

In 2007 we moved twice and once again in 2009 before my current assignment at Fort Belvoir. These seizures, Special Education, and a lack of understanding these seizures both in school and at home, caused Andrews’s education to fall further and further behind.

Because of the intense and frequent seizures Andrew was unable to learn in a school environment. In late 2009 his doctor prescribed he be removed from school and be Homebound instructed. The doctor also prescribed a Seizure Response dog, and the surgical implant of a VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulator) due to Andrew’s lack of response to the several potent adult medications. The medications failed reduced or prevent these debilitating seizures.

VNS is not some quick fix decision by his doctor. VNS is a very serious surgical procedure that minimizes seizures. It is a last resort and is used in kids who have had no relief from medication.

When we tried to find an agency that trained Seizure Response dogs, and that would speak with us. Most had 2-6 year waiting lists. We were also told most people with LGS did not make it through their teen years, we were scared, scared parents at a loss of what to do and how to protect our son.

We discovered an agency that trained dogs for seizures in NY, however it was expensive, and we started a charity called The Andrew Gordon Stevens Foundation. The original goal was to get Andrew his dog and be done with it. However, more and more soldiers and families in need started contacting us so we expanded it after raising enough for Andrews dog. The foundation is now raising funds for other service members that need Seizure Alert Dogs.

Epilepsy is a very frightening and misunderstood disease with no real cure. Living with it and watching your child suffer from it is a horrible experience I would wish on no one, not even my enemy.

As a soldier and a father the hardest thing is feeling powerless to help the ones you love. When Andrew’s service dog came into his life, it was the first time we saw a reduction in his seizures, and the first time something other than a machine could detect his seizures before he had them. That gave us an extra and effective weapon against epilepsy and Andrew’s seizures.

We finally had a way out of the darkness. A chance to help Andrew. We want everything Andrew is entitled to so he may have as normal a life for as long as he can. This is what any loving parent wants.

Andrew’s service dog was denied entry into his school in Fairfax county public schools (FCPS). Denial began slowly first as small requests that the school turned into demands, and grew into ridiculous requests. Now we are in a bitter battle between parents (us) that want to protect their child and a school that resistant and demanding items that are against Federal law.

Andrew and his dog are certified as a team. The school requires a handler or teachers’ aide from the school’s organization of choice. Our problem is whatever organization the school uses neither trained Alaya, Andrew, nor us on this dog. The trainers that trained us, Andrew, and Alaya are the certified officials and are the ones that provided the certificates.

Andrew’s doctor prescribed a seizure alert dog, and also directed the seizure alert dog, Alaya, must attend school with Andrew. Alaya has been successful in detecting Andrews seizures, even the subtle ones that are unseen and undetected. The school claims a nurse can provide the same care Alaya offers to Andrew. I know of no nurse with a nose so fine as to detect the subtle chemical changes that precede or accompany a seizure.

We asked the school to provide proof that a human that can sense and detect a seizure before it happens, and of course, they have yet to provide that. We, the parents, provided all we were asked for even though the Federal law states we do not have to, and yet the school will not provide clarification or direction.

We asked FCPS to provide us information on a school that had a service dog in it and they have yet to provide that. We asked the school to coordinate a meeting with those that were against allowing the dog and they have failed to provide that. FCPS are paid for by tax payer dollars. They are public servants hired to provide service to us, the tax payers.

FCPS finally offered a mediation meeting after having offered a full time nurse. A nurse cannot detect the chemical change in Andrew before a seizure, only a trained seizure alert dog can. The nurse can only respond to Andrew’s seizure if detected. Seizure alert dogs are not pets but medical equipment.

We asked for increased homebound hours until an agreement can be made with the service animal. No notification has arrived since the denial letter drafted by someone who refused to show up for any meeting with us.

Going to the media is not an easy choice. We are left with few weapons to fight a battle we know we already won. FCPS seems reluctant to admit and we refuse to remain quiet, or sidelined.

Our goals and demands are simply to allow the service animal to attend school with Andrew, to understand that we, the parents, will be there for the first several weeks to integrate the dog into the school, class, and with the other students, and to know that we intend to work every step of the way to educate, teach, and share the experience with the school.

We are not unreasonable parents. There are no legal reasons to deny a service dog. Service dogs are protected by Federal Law as are their charges. Andrew and Alaya have a legal right to attend school together, and I will not allow that right to be taken from him.

I love my son, he will be given the chance to have everything he needs and is entitled to. It wounds my heart to see him sad, upset and wanting to move to a school that will accept him and his dog. It takes everything I can do to maintain control, and discipline. I do so because I want my son to see that law is on his side and that when you fight the good fight, you are fighting the battle for everyone like you. For those who come after you. We must set the right example and be the voice for all those after us.

In our last meeting Mrs. Streeter said and I quote,
Angelo, “So if my son was blind, will he be allowed a Seeing Eye dog?”
Streeter, “No, we have teachers that can see!”
So before you assume I'm stubborn and unreasonable, remember I fight because people in FCPS have no real appreciation for the Federal law the are unjustly challenging.
We are not unreasonable. When presented with something reasonable, we are more than willing to work with them. If the FCPS would fund a handler and we reach an understanding of a handler’s duties, we would be willing to accept that. It is my understanding a full time handler would cost far less than a full time nurse.

Such an offer has not been made by FCPS, however, for a family in Woodbridge attending Woodbridge Middle School it seems to work fine. Parents, handler, principle, teachers, and students are all open and working as a team. It’s a learning experience and one Woodbridge Middle school has eagerly embraced. Perhaps FCPS can learn something from this school.

This is a battle for my son and his school, and the rights of persons with disabilities. Federal law is behind us. I will use every tool I have to make FCPS provide a safe educational environment for my son. I will not be bullied, I will not be quiet, and I will not accept no as an answer.

FCPS has had every chance to address this issue. All they have provided are a few statements here and there, which do not address the issue at hand. I even signed a release giving them full permission to speak, and instead a small statement was issued by the county’s chancellor which, again, never addressed the issue, or the lack of following the Federal law as it is clearly written. For the record, no one has ever won a case when denying a service dog that meets the ADA guidelines. For the record, no one from FCPS has been able to show us a school in FCPS that is allowing a service dog. FCPS has not offered us any concrete reason for denying Andrew’s service dog that we have not already countered.

Angelo John Stevens
Father, Husband, American.

 

Mr. Stevens, thank you for coming here and participating in this discussion. This post was very informative but in no way do you owe anyone such details about your son's condition and your family's journey. Thank you for being willing to share in such detail.

My husband has idiopathic epilepsy, he started having grand mal seizures when we were in college. Nothing on CT scans, EEG, or MRI. Luckily, his condition has been 100% controlled by medications (he was on carbatrol and now lamotrigine I believe). He has not had a seizure in years and I think this summer we will try weaning off the meds so he is very lucky indeed.

Thank you for your service to this country.

 

Don't blame you one bit for fighting for your son, Angelo!

Purely out of curiosity, could you tell us what agency certified the dog as such a detection dog? I think it would be fascinating to check with them and see how such a capability is trained into a dog.

When you mention the "handler" above, can we assume that is a person who would handle the dog? Would this person need to be trained and certified by the same organization that trained the dog?

And finally, I am curious (and apologize if this was already stated and I missed it) as to what grade your son is in in Fairfax schools. It is intersting esp. to me as I used to live in Faifax, Va.

 

OK one more time. The ADA does not trump another child's allergy. This is why parents meet with special groups and set up plans for a child's education. Allergies in some cases are covered under the ADA if they are severe enough to classify the individual as disabled under the ADA legal standards.

Next, Mr. Stevens has already said there are no children in his son's class that are allergic nor have any parents in the school made a complaint about his son taking his dog to school.

And finally, allergies have nothing to do with this particular thread. A seperate thread was started to discuss allergies in the cases where they do pertain.

 

I don't want to bog down this thread with irrelevant allergy talk but in general, if someone has a service dog (as in a movie theater) and another patron complains that they have an allergy, they cannot ask the service dog and handler to leave. That being my definition of trump. We can take this up in the other thread.

 

When you mention the "handler" above, can we assume that is a person who would handle the dog? Would this person need to be trained and certified by the same organization that trained the dog?

I am curious about the handler requirement. It appears to me that the school is saying Alaya can come to school with Andrew IF there is a qualified, adult handler who can handle the dog while Andrew has seizures, since he would not be able to handle the dog himself. Is this correct?

If so, why is it the school's responsibility to provide and fund a handler for a three-unit Service Dog team? It seems to me like in the majority of cases where a three-unit Service dog team is attending school or working together, it's usually made up of a disabled child, the child's service dog, and one of the child's parents who handles the dog. As Andrew's parents are both certified to handle Alaya, could his mother be the handler?

I don't know if the mother works since it has not been mentioned, but as she is currently homeschooling, I am assuming that she does not work or at least does not work full-time. If that's the case, why can't his mother be the handler for the dog so Andrew can attend school? This would not require the school to pay for a handler nor would anyone need to worry about whom this handler is certified with or how, as Andrew's mother is already certified.

And finally, I am curious (and apologize if this was already stated and I missed it) as to what grade your son is in in Fairfax schools. It is intersting esp. to me as I used to live in Faifax, Va.

The family lives on Fort Belvoir (military installation). The only school physically on Fort Belvoir is Fort Belvoir Elementary School, and older children bus to Walt Whitman Middle School and Mount Vernon High School, both of which are in Alexandria, VA. Fort Belvoir Elementary school is Grade K through 6. I would assume Andrew is in 6th grade if he is 12 and goes to Fort Belvoir Elementary.

 

In many situations school is paying for 1 on 1 assistants for students. These students often receive other services, such as speech, OT, special education teachers that give extra support to that child while they still attend regular classes. This has become VERY costly for schools. I'm sure with the economy the way it is, schools struggle to meet the needs of the masses as well as individuals while trying to keep cost down. I do not envy those who must make these touch decisions.

 

older children bus to Walt Whitman Middle School and Mount Vernon High School, both of which are in Alexandria, VA.

I might clear up some confusion or I might add confusion with this but for folks that are not familiar with Virginia. Walt Whitman Middle School and Mount Vernon High School are in a portion of Alexandria that is in Fairfax County. Part of Alexandria is designated the City of Alexandria and has its own school system. The Alexandria school system is not involved in this issue. Just in case anyone is looking for school board web sites.