What’s Best for Eli?

Jodi is a single mom of two boys ages six and four. She lives in the small town of Ridgeman-population 2,400. Jodi’s six-year-old has an emotional and attention deficit disorder manifesting in high impulsivity and aggressiveness whenever he is frustrated. Eli has hit and kicked his first grade teacher, Miss Davies, on more than one occasion. Although she was not injured, Miss Davies is worried about the safety of her other 23 students and how Eli’s behavior may affect the entire class. Miss Davies is a first-year teacher and feels stress from the extra time spent dealing with Eli’s behaviors. Eli’s special education plan states he is to have an aide available at all times, and the school district hired a young student teacher to fill that role.

In October, Eli was frustrated by a handwriting assignment and threw a pencil at Miss Davies, missing her and hitting a classmate. Miss Davies sent him to the office for the tenth time that year. The Vice Principal suspended Eli for five days and called Jodi, Eli’s mom, to pick him up. During the five-day suspension, Jodi and the special education team met to determine how best to handle Eli. The school personnel presented Jodi with the option of bussing Eli to a special school 30 miles away. Confused and overwhelmed, Jodi felt pressured to agree. Jodi decided to research her legal options. She discovered Eli has a right to a specialist trained to manage emotional disorders and that the school district is required by law to develop a plan to manage Eli’s outbursts. She doesn’t want Eli to be bussed 30 miles away. Ridgeman Elementary is feeling pressure from other parents not to let Eli back into the classroom. Miss Davies cares about Eli and worries that Eli’s return will not be good for anyone involved. As required by law, the State Department of Education provided a special education mediation specialist to help the parties work through these issues.