LPS Superintendent Statement Challenges NYT OpEd Alleging Mistreatment of Special Needs Student

The following statement was provided by School Committee Chairwoman Margaret Coppe, on behalf of Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash. The bolded emphasis is theirs. Ash is also expected to address the issue at the School Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 11. Read about

The Lexington Public Schools maintains a written policy concerning time-outs and our policy reflects and has always reflected State law.

The Lexington Public Schools keeps and has always kept meticulous records involving the education and treatment of Special Education students. Our notes involving the student in question, which were written on the days in question, do not reflect the account as described in the op-ed column.

When this matter first came to my attention, almost two years after the incident described in the op-ed column, I reviewed the logs and based on the detailed contemporaneous notes I read, I found that staff members followed district protocol.

Finally, despite the parent’s claim that he complained to the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and Department of Children and Family Services, at no time was I contacted by any State agency indicating that a complaint had been filed concerning the treatment of this student. Furthermore, we have contacted the two state agencies mentioned, to ask whether a complaint was on record and we were told today that there is no record of either agency having received a complaint.