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Tell the St. Lucie County School District to Respect the Rights of Students with Disabilities

To: St. Lucie County School Board (St. Lucie County Public Schools)

It was a year ago that then 5-year-old Alex Barton was voted out of his Florida kindergarten class by his classmates, as directed to by their teacher, Wendy Portillo. Portillo first had the students say what they did not like about Alex after which they voted "Survivor-style" about whether he could stay in the classroom. Alex was "voted out": The incident sparked national, and international, attention and Portillo was suspended for a year without pay and lost her tenure. Earlier this year, Portillo appealed the ruling, which was upheld. However, as reported in the June 10th TCPalm.com, the St. Lucie County School Board has voted unanimously to allow Portillo to "keep her professional contract with the county school district and the tenure protection it affords."

Portillo's having her students "vote out" their fellow student has continued to haunt Morningside Elementary School, not to mention the after-effects on Alex and his family. Susan Kline, a mother of two former Morningside students---one of whom has Asperger's Syndrome--- urges "any parent with such a child to communicate and work closely with teachers." She is also quoted as saying:

“It’s not convenient having an Asperger child,” Kline said, “But it is what it is.

“I don’t necessarily agree with what Mrs. Portillo did that day,” she added. “But I can understand it.”

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It may be possible to understand why Portillo had her young students vote Alex Barton out of his classroom. But it is still puzzling that a school board----an educational entity---would stand behind a teacher who instructs her kindergarten class to take such an action towards a fellow student. Please let the St. Lucie School Board know that you do not agree with its decision to allow Wendy Portillo to keep her tenure and her contract by signing this petition.

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Tell the St. Lucie County School District to Respect the Rights of Students with Disabilities

To the St. Lucie County School District,

Over a year ago, 5-year-old Alex Barton was voted out of his Florida kindergarten class by his classmates, as directed to by their teacher, Wendy Portillo. Portillo first had the students say what they did not like about Alex after which they voted "Survivor-style" about whether he could stay in the classroom. Alex was "voted out." This incident sparked national, and international, attention and Portillo was suspended for a year without pay and lost her tenure. Earlier this year, Portillo appealed the ruling, which was upheld. However, as reported in the June 10th TCPalm.com, the School Board of St. Lucie County has voted unanimously to allow Portillo to "keep her professional contract with the county school district and the tenure protection it affords."

The St. Lucie County School District's decision to reintstate Wendy Portillo's tenure and contract sends a highly troubling message to families of students with disabilities and to individuals with disabilities, in Florida and all over the US. Under the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, students with disabilities are ensured of a free and appropriate public education. Further, the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, and certainly the kind of discrimination experienced by Alex last year.

We ask you to reconsider your decision to reinstate Wendy Portillo's tenure and contract. Even more, we ask that you, the St. Lucie County School District, respect the civil rights of students with disabilities.

[Your name here]

Sorry, the time period for signing this petition has ended.

Lilac Alfke San Antonio, TX

Sent letter to St. Lucie County School Board (St. Lucie County Public Schools)

Sep 05
Matthew Tripp Moore, SC

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Aug 08
Bruce Combs Williamsburg, VA

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Aug 07
Charlie Luna los angeles, CA

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Aug 05
Katja Siirasto Helsinki, Finland

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Dana Hoffman Marble, MN

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pierluigi bonatesta Cagliari, Italy

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Candy LeBlanc Cameron Park, CA

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maria benz ulm, Germany

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Janise Morales Garnerville, NY

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