Salinas special needs parent alleges neglect at high school
A Salinas mom’s anger boils over as she claims her special needs son was the victim of neglect at the hands of his teacher at Salinas High School.
“I never in the 17 years of my son going to special education have a problem like this,” said Mylu Reveron.
Reveron realized the problem when her son Jesus got a new teacher last year.
“Since she took over, everything is just a mess,” said Reveron.
The first incident happened back in October 2018, when she found something shocking inside Jesus’ backpack when he came home from school.
“Inside the backpack in a plastic bag was his underwear with a big piece of feces,” said Reveron.
Reveron says this kept happening to her son, who has down syndrome and other disabilities. After speaking with school administrators, Reveron says things got better for at time, until the beginning of this school year when it started all over again.
“They started to send him home with the same diaper I put in the morning. I said what is this?” said Reveron.
The Salinas Union High School District tells KION they follow strict health and safety procedures when they assist students with bathroom breaks, which they are required to do.
The district says: “This assistance is always done by a trained employee who, when possible, is the same gender as the student.”
They also add: “A second employee (of the same gender whenever possible) should be within visual range.”
The group Special Kids Connect in Monterey, which advocates for special needs students, believes the school districts in Monterey County do the best they can do to provide for these students.
However, they says communication is key.
“Often times there’s some disagreement that happens with regard to what a parent wants versus what a school is able or is supposed to be giving,” said Lori Luzader, the executive director of Special Kids Connect.
For Reveron, who is supposed to be meeting with school administrators again this week, the changes she wants to see cannot happen soon enough.
“I hope with this meeting, the teacher is removed or (the district starts) a deep investigation, dig it,” said Reveron.
The school district says they cannot comment directly on this particular case. But they said they are eager to work with any parent who has concerns about their policies and practices.
