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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal Public Meetings: Feb. 2-6 Super cheerleader Restaurant Inspections Emergency services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Emergency services UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive Former Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb dies Man who allegedly almost robbed Purple Parrot returns Politics and Elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Education Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Medford reconsiders full-day kindergarten State boosts class time expectation A wealth of experience Environment Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures Mt. 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Live Music in Local Clubs Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Eric Johnson and Mike Stern at The Rogue Theatre Alcyon Massive and Frankie Hernandez play acoustic at Howiee's Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Theater Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Music Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Jesse Cook plays the Craterian Theater Shybo Torres plays South Stage Cellars Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Trio Valtorna plays SOU Music Hall Community Events Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. Ty Barnett and Ian Harris are 'Divided' Dining Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense ... Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you ... Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense ... Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you ... EDUCATION Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 30, 2015 @ 12:05 pm By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 30, 2015 @ 12:05 pm » Social News The Ashland School District is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights after the parent of a former Walker Elementary student filed a complaint alleging that the district had discriminated against her and her son on the basis of his disability. In her complaint, the parent, who asked not to be identified, accused the district of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by excluding her son from six field trips last spring, enforcing a policy that requires parents of students with disabilities to accompany their children on field trips, revising her son’s Individualized Education Plan without her consent and retaliating against her family for requesting complaint forms. The Office for Civil Rights dismissed two other allegations brought against the district because they failed “to state a violation of one of the laws OCR enforces,” explained ED Program Manager Monique Malson in a letter to the mother dated Jan. 9. The boy attended Walker Elementary from kindergarten through the fourth grade, during which time he attended all field trips, including 10 during his fourth-grade year, said the mother in an email to the Mail Tribune. Between April and June 2014, the boy was excluded from six field trips, which the mother considers “a form of retaliation,” after she and her husband requested complaint forms and a copy of the district’s annual report on the use of physical restraints and acquired an advocate. Ashland’s Director of Student Services Samuel Bogdanove "threatened to hold the annual (Individualized Education Plan) meeting without the parent(s)" and "in a spirit of animus contacted my employer to complain that I had used my work email to send nonwork related emails to him and others at the school district," the mother said in an email. The family has since moved to Arizona. Bogdanove, one of three administrators the woman says violated the ADA, said the district has received a copy of her complaint but cannot comment on open complaints. (In her emails, the woman also criticized Superintendent Jay Hummel and Walker Principal Patty Michiels.) Bogdanove said the district, as a general rule, does not have a policy that requires parental supervision on class field trips. He also said that changing a student’s Individualized Education Plan is a “team process” that involves the parents. “We have oversight through a couple different agencies, Oregon Department of Education, which includes the state Office of Civil Rights, and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Programs and Office of Civil Rights,” Bogdanove said. “All those agencies provide oversight, and parents always have recourse if they feel the district is not handling things appropriately.” According to Malson’s letter, the complaint may be resolved by an Office for Civil Rights-facilitated resolution, a written agreement by the district to take remedial actions or an Office for Civil Rights investigation to determine whether the district is in compliance with the applicable legal standards. “OCR’s acceptance of the allegations does not reflect an opinion by the OCR regarding the merits of the allegations or the district’s compliance status with respect to federal civil rights laws,” said Malson in her letter.  Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt .   By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 30, 2015 @ 12:05 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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