what I want him to know

BS and I meet with our Bishop on Friday to talk about what happened to Smoochie.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to express our concerns face to face.  We realize that many people will never be given this chance.

So I feel very responsible to represent all special needs families that have been rejected, abandoned, and tossed out of schools like pieces of trash.

I'm a little freaked out on how to convey the most important and relevant information in the least amount of time.  I don't know how much time we have, but I want to be prepared for less.  If we get more, then all the better.

Is this what I want the Bishop to know???

• We aren't exactly sure what happened.  We just know a teacher was injured and had to be checked out at the hospital.
• We have not been given any written documentation, or correspondence from the school or diocese.  The principle did return my phone call after I left a message about a form that we received from the school
• This was the flagship program, the best of the best.  The one that the rest of the diocesan schools was going to use to set up their special needs programs.  It was supposed to have the full support of the diocese and a special advisory board for resources, and supply any aides that a student might need.
• Tuition was $15000 because of all of these "resources".
• James was accepted into the program with the understanding that he would need a full time aide, which would be provided by the school/diocese.  This "aide" is a mom from
  Saint Jude parish with no "special needs" training other than an autism seminar that she and the resource teacher attended in October.
• When I was called to the school to discuss the "accident", I was informed by the principle that James needed a full time special education aide. When I stated that he did have a full time aide, the principle responded with, "she isn't properly trained and he needs someone specifically trained".  
• At no time during the past 3 semesters were we ever told that we would have to provide training for school personnel.
• We affirm the difficulty of integrating special needs students. We have been completely supportive of the school and school staff.  We have been completely cooperative in every possible way.
• We enrolled James with the understanding that staff and his full time aide would be capable of handling his needs and would have the resources needed to do so.
• When we were asked to leave because we couldn't provide the "required" resources for him to stay enrolled, there was no recourse, there was no cooling off period, there was no consultation with parents, teachers, and advisory board, for creative solutions to enable my son to remain in his school.  The pastor wasn't even present. The accident happened at 8 something and James and I were walking out the door by 9:30 a.m.  End of conversation, principle got to make the final decision, have the final say.

That's it in a nutshell. Do you think that is short, sweet, and relevant?  Does it convey our pain with out accusation?  Is the complete and utter failure revealed without throwing anyone under the bus?  

Thankful that we have a couple of days to review, think and rewrite!

Pray for us and all special needs families that we can have the opportunity to give our children a Catholic education just like every other student!