I'm seething tonight about our youngest daughter's middle school and the changes they're making to special needs accommodations (m)

Posted on September 21, 2026 at 11:35:41 PM by wolvalum

This probably won't seem like an issue to most of you guys, but it's really grinding my gears. The principal sent an email to us an hour ago (who sends parents an email at 10pm?) letting us know that drop-off and pick-up procedures will need to fall inline with the rest of the student body. Our daughter's paraeducator (her 1:1 companion who helps her through her classes) can't text us if anything goes wrong, just email. If the paraeducator is going to be absent, she can't text us, and there will be a substitute there. Our daughter is shunned by the other students this age and her para is her only real friend in the school. She's autistic, in addition to having CP, so she doesn't deal with unexpected change well. Our para has been told she can't text us directly about anything. All of this is a problem.

We've had great experiences in this school district with having our daughter's needs addressed. So much love and empathy. This new principal was promoted last year and it's been one issue after another. She's in over her head.

We've had our older 2 kids go through with no issues. I guess we need to just ride this out for the next 8 months, until our daughter heads to high school.

And for as annoyed as I am, my wife is completely pissed. When this principal starts indirectly cockblocking me, I've reached my breaking point.

Back to the board

Thread:

I'm seething tonight about our youngest daughter's middle school and the changes they're making to special needs accommodations (m) - By wolvalum September 21, 2026 at 11:35:41 PM
- They're trying to restrict text communication from one adult to another? Maybe the problem is parents overwhelming paraeducators with texts? Then permit one-way texts only.* - By ftb September 22, 2026 at 12:23:59 AM
  - What we were told was that since kids are no longer allowed to have access to phones in school, they're forcing all of the teachers to follow that standard. Good example, and all that* - By wolvalum September 22, 2026 at 12:25:32 AM
    - Depending on your wireless carrier, the email could be sent directly to your cell phone as a text. - By mjhollen September 22, 2026 at 12:36:04 AM
      - If it wasn’t clear, the X’s are your 10 digit phone number.* - By mjhollen September 22, 2026 at 12:37:21 AM
        
        Good advice. I'll add this (m) - By wolvalum September 22, 2026 at 12:47:10 AM
- Very sorry wolvalum* - By brick September 22, 2026 at 12:15:04 AM
- I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. We text with my son’s primary ASD teacher and at least two of the paras all the time. I can’t imagine not having that communication.* - By gbmcq September 22, 2026 at 12:02:41 AM
  - Thanks, Trevor. I really hope we can resolve this through the next in-person meeting. I don't want to go nuclear and involve the school board, but I'll absolutely do it* - By wolvalum September 22, 2026 at 12:15:05 AM
- Bureaucratic CYA bullshit. Sorry you’re dealing with that.* - By WOK September 21, 2026 at 11:50:54 PM
  - Thanks, man. I get it, I'm housebroken by corporate life. Still sucks when it lands in my lap and impacts our kiddo directly* - By wolvalum September 21, 2026 at 11:55:53 PM
- Did she note any reasons for the changes?* - By jjwalker September 21, 2026 at 11:43:28 PM
  - Like the text changes seem very very different from the pick up/drop off time timing. What happened to cause these changes, and why?* - By jjwalker September 21, 2026 at 11:46:08 PM
    - If I assume positive intent on her part, she's trying to enforce consistency across all students and parents(m) - By wolvalum September 21, 2026 at 11:50:27 PM
      - The one size fits all bureaucrat. Doesn't trust their own judgement in making decisions case by case, gotta have one rule for everything... - By jjwalker September 21, 2026 at 11:54:51 PM
  - No, but she thanked us for our understanding and flexibility as they review and realign their expectations for the paraeducators. Fuck that mealy-mouthed bullshit* - By wolvalum September 21, 2026 at 11:46:08 PM
- Can you go over her head to the district?* - By Rich September 21, 2026 at 11:39:26 PM
  - We're going to start with an in-person meeting, but if we don't like the answers, we'll absolutely escalate* - By wolvalum September 21, 2026 at 11:41:32 PM

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I'm seething tonight about our youngest daughter's middle school and the changes they're making to special needs accommodations (m)