BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County Schools is on track to pay $225,000 to settle a claim alleging it did not provide proper education to a special education high school student.
The payments are to settle claims that the system violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as set out by two attorneys for the student and his mother.
kAm%96 D49@@= DJDE6> =67E E96 DEF56?E :? 2 C@@> H:E9 2? F?EC2:?65 25F=E “D:EE6C” >@DE @7 E96 D49@@= 52J 2?5 >2D<65 9:D 65F42E:@?2= AC@8C6DD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2==682E:@?D >256 :? 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 367@C6 2 D6EE=6>6?E H2D C624965]k^Am
kAm%96 DEF56?E[ ?@H `h[ H2D `f H96? 9:D >@E96C D@F89E C6=:67 E9C@F89 E96 %6??6DD66 s6A2CE\>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?] %96 DEF56?E 92D 2FE:D> 2?5 D6?D@CJ :?E68C2E:@? 5:D@C56C]k^Am
kAm%96 %:>6D }6HD :D ?@E AF3=:D9:?8 E96 ?2>6D @7 E96 DEF56?E ?@C 9:D >@E96C] $49@@= @77:4:2=D 92G6 C6A62E65=J 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm@? E96 >2EE6C @G6C E96 A2DE 76H >@?E9Dk^DA2?m]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJ3@5J 42? C625 E96 AF3=:4 C64@C5D 2?5 ;F586 E9:D[” E96 >@E96C D2:5 %9FCD52J 27E6C?@@? 3J A9@?6] “p== x <?@H :D E92E A6@A=6 H:== ;FDE 92G6 E@ C625 :E 2?5 >2<6 E96:C @H? ;F58>6?E]”k^Am
kAms@4F>6?ED 7:=65 :? $F==:G2? r@F?EJ r:C4F:E r@FCE :?5:42E6 E96 DEF56?E H2D AFE :? 2 “3C62< C@@>” 2E E96 7@C>6C $F==:G2? r6?EC2= w:89 $49@@= H:E9 2? 25F=E H9@ H2D ?@E EC2:?65 E@ 92?5=6 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAm%96 DEF56?E C646:G65 =F?49 :? E92E C@@> 2?5 DA6?E >F49 @7 E96 E:>6 D=66A:?8 @? 2 4@F49[ @?6 @7 E96 5@4F>6?ED DE2E6D] %96 D49@@= DJDE6> 2=D@ AC@G:565 E96 25F=E H:E9 2 4@F49]k^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED DE2E6 E96 D49@@= DJDE6> 72=D:7:65 E96 DEF56?E’D 65F42E:@?2= AC@8C6DD 3J 8:G:?8 9:> 8C256D E92E H6C6 ?@E 62C?65]k^Am
kAm%96 DEF56?E “:D 2 492==6?86[ 3FE 96 :D 2 9F>2? 36:?8] w6 92D 2 D@F=[” E96 >@E96C E@=5 E96 %:>6D }6HD] “}@ >2EE6C H92E 96 5@6D[ 96 :D 2 9F>2? 36:?8] x 42?’E D66 A6@A=6 36:?8 EC62E65 =:<6 E92E]”k^Am
kAm$F==:G2? r@F?EJ $49@@=D 92D 28C665 E@ AC@G:56 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? D6CG:46D E@ E96 DEF56?E[ 3FE ?@ >@?6E2CJ 2>@F?ED 2C6 DA64:7:65] %9@D6 D6CG:46D :?4=F56 3692G:@C 2?2=JD:D 2?5 G@42E:@?2=^EC2?D:E:@? 2DD6DD>6?E]k^Am
kAm“(92E x DE2CE65 @FE H2D ?@E 7@C >@?6J[” E96 >@E96C D2:5]k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 D6EE=6>6?E[ E96 D49@@= DJDE6> “:? ?@ H2J 4@?DE:EFE6D 2?J 25>:DD:@? @C 7:?5:?8 @7 =:23:=:EJ @? E96 A2CE @7 $r$]”k^Am
kAm%96 D49@@= DJDE6>’D C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D H:== 6?5 :7 E96 DEF56?E >@G6D @FED:56 E96 5:DEC:4E] ~E96CH:D6[ E9@D6 C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D H:== 6?5 2E E96 4@?4=FD:@? @7 E96 24256>:4 J62C H96? 96 EFC?D aa[ H9:49 H:== 36 a_ac\ad]k^Am
k9bm|~}t* %#px{k^9bm
kAm$F==:G2? r@F?EJ $49@@=D A2:5 Sbf[h`e :? a_a_ E@ 2 DA64:2= ?665D ECFDE 7F?5 7@C E96 DEF56?E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 7656C2= `_hh 7@C>D @3E2:?65 3J E96 %:>6D }6HD E9C@F89 2 C64@C5D C6BF6DE]k^Am
kAm%92E =:?6D FA H:E9 >@?6E2CJ C6=:67 8C2?E65 :? 2? @C56C D:8?65 ~4E] `c[ a_a_[ 3J r:C4F:E r@FCE yF586 (:==:2> z] #@86CD 2?5 7:=65 H:E9 E96 r:C4F:E r@FCE 4=6C< @? ~4E] `d]k^Am
kAmx? E96 A6E:E:@? 7@C >:?@C D6EE=6>6?E 2AAC@G2=[ E96 28C66>6?E DA64:7:6D S``b[fd_ :? E9C66 :?DE2==>6?EDi Sbf[h`e AC@G:565 :? a_a_j Sbf[h`f 3J $6AE] `[ a_a`j 2?5 2?@E96C Sbf[h`f 3J $6AE] `[ a_aa]k^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ Se`[ad_ :? 2EE@C?6JD’ 766D 2?5 6IA6?D6D H6?E E@ v:=36CE {2H !{r[ H9:49 C6AC6D6?E65 E96 DEF56?E 2?5 9:D >@E96C[ 9:D 4@?D6CG2E@C A6C 2 $6AE] ad @C56C D:8?65 3J $F==:G2? r@F?EJ r92?46==@C y@9? |4{6==2? xxx]k^Am
kAm%92E 255D FA E@ S`fd[___] p? 255:E:@?2= 2>@F?E FA E@ Sd_[___ 7@C “65F42E:@? 2?5^@C C6=2E65 D6CG:46D E@ 36 A2:5 5:C64E=J E@ E96 4@?EC24E 286?4J” @7 E96 >@E96C’D 49@@D:?8 :D E@ 36 A2:5] %96 2>@F?E :D FA E@ S`_[___ 7@C a_a_\a`j FA E@ Sa_[___ 7@C a_a`\aaj 2?5 FA E@ Sa_[___ 7@C a_aa\ab]k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 A2J>6?ED 2C6 E@ D6EE=6 G:@=2E:@?D @7 E96 p>6C:42?D H:E9 s:D23:=:E:6D p4E 2?5 x?5:G:5F2=D H:E9 s:D23:=:E:6D t5F42E:@? p4E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 @C56C D:8?65 3J #@86CD 2?5 E96 A6E:E:@? 7@C D6EE=6>6?E 2AAC@G2= @7 E96 42D6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmr92EE2?@@82 2EE@C?6J yFDE:? $] v:=36CE 2?5 y24<D@? 2EE@C?6J y6DD:42 u] $2=@?FD C6AC6D6?E65 E96 DEF56?E 2?5 9:D >@E96C] |FC7C66D3@C@ 2EE@C?6J s62??2 {] pC:G6EE C6AC6D6?E65 E96 D49@@= DJDE6>]k^Am
kAmv:=36CE 2?5 $2=@?FD 7:=65 E96 “A6E:E:@? 7@C >:?@C D6EE=6>6?E 2AAC@G2=” $6AE] ah[ a_a_]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>A=2:?E DE2E6D E92E $F==:G2? r@F?EJ $49@@=D “56?:65 ,E96 DEF56?E. 2? 2AAC@AC:2E6 65F42E:@? 3J A=24:?8 9:> :? 2 D68C682E65 C@@> H:E9@FE 2AAC@AC:2E6 E62496CD 2?5 >2E6C:2=D[ DF49 E92E 96 H2D 56?:65 2 7C66 2?5 2AAC@AC:2E6 2?5 ?@?\5:D4C:>:?2E@CJ 65F42E:@? 5FC:?8 9:D 9:89 D49@@= J62CD] $r$ 56?:65 E92E :E G:@=2E65 2?J =2HD]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 >@E96C H6?E E@ E96 %6??6DD66 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?[ E96 42D6 H2D 2DD:8?65 2 >65:2E@C H:E9 E96 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6’D ~77:46[ p5>:?:DEC2E:G6 !C@465FC6D s:G:D:@?[ :? yF=J a_a_] $9@CE=J 27E6C >65:2E:@?[ 23@FE $6AE] a`[ a_a_[ E96 A6E:E:@? DE2E6D E92E 2 D6EE=6>6?E H2D C624965 DF3;64E E@ 2AAC@G2= 3J E96 4@FCE]k^Am
k9bm|~#t p{{tvp%x~}$k^9bm
kAm“,%96 DEF56?E’D. >@DE C646?E xt! W:?5:G:5F2=:K65 65F42E:@? AC@8C2>X DE2E6D E92E ,E96 DEF56?E. H:== 36 65F42E65 :? 2 ‘DA64:2= 65F42E:@? D6EE:?8’ <?@H? 2D 2 ‘r@>AC696?D:G6 s6G6=\@A>6?E r=2DDC@@>[’ 4@?D:DE:?8 @7 49:=5C6? H:E9 DA64:2= ?665D[ E2F89E 3J 2 46CE:7:65 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? E62496C] %9:D :D E@ @44FC D6G6? 9@FCD A6C 52J[ bd 9@FCD A6C H66<] w6 H2D E@ 36 8:G6? 3C62<D 2D ?66565[” E96 4@>A=2:?E DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm“qFE :? 24EF2=:EJ ,E96 DEF56?E’D. 9:89 D49@@= A=246>6?E 7@C E96 8C62E >2;@C:EJ @7 9:D 52J 3642>6 2 =:E6C2= ‘3C62< C@@>]’ $r$ A=2465 9:> :? 2 C@@> E92E D2JD ‘3C62< C@@>’ @? E96 @FED:56[ H:E9 2? 25F=E D:EE6C :?D:56]k^Am
kAm“%96 C@@> :?4=F56D EH@ 4@F496D[ @?6 7@C ,E96 DEF56?E.[ @?6 7@C E96 D:EE6C] ~? E96 7=@@C 2C6 2 D=66A:?8 >2E 2?5 2? 6I6C4:D6 32==] p 3=2?<6E C6DED @? ,E96 DEF56?E’D. 4@F49] %96C6 :D ?@E 6G6? 2 56D<] p?5 65F42E:@?2= :?DECF4E:@? :D C2C6=J 8:G6?] %96 D:EE6C :D ?@E 2 46CE:7:65 E62496C[ ?@C :D D96 :?E6?565 E@ 36]” kDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96C6 2C6 ?@ A66CD :? E96 C@@> H:E9 H9@> ,E96 DEF56?E. 42? 2DD@4:2E6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAm%96 4=2:> DE2E6D =F?49 H2D FDF2==J 3C@F89E E@ E96 DEF56?E 2?5 96 >@DE=J “D=66AD @? 2 4@F49 H:E9 E96 3=2?<6E :?D:56 E96 C@@>[ =:89ED @77] %96 D:EE6C[ ?@E 36:?8 2 46CE:7:65 :?DECF4E@C[ :D :?4=:?65 E@ =62G6 ,E96 DEF56?E. C6DE:?8 @C D=66A:?8 7@C E96 52J] %96 D:EE6C G:6HD E9:D 2D E96 =62DE C6D:DE2?46 E@ A2DD E96 52J[ 6G6? E9@F89 :E :D ?@E 65F42E:@?2==J 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C ,E96 DEF56?E].”k^Am
k9bm!wp}%~| v#pst$ p$$xv}tsk^9bm
kAm%96 5F6 AC@46DD C6BF6DE 2=D@ 4=2:>D $r$ H2D “>2D<:?8” E96 DEF56?ED 65F42E:@?2= AC@8C6DD] “vC256D 2C6 36:?8 8:G6? E@ ,E96 DEF56?E. 3J $r$[ 2?5 2C6 ?@E 24EF2==J 62C?65[ @C 6G6? H@C<65 @?]”k^Am
kAm“%96 =25J H9@ H2D 8:G:?8 9:> 8C256D 925 ?6G6C D66? 9:> :? 96C 4=2DDC@@>[” E96 >@E96C D2:5] “tG6CJE9:?8 :? E92E 5@4F>6?E W2 5F6 AC@46DD C6BF6DEX :D 8@DA6=]”k^Am
kAm“%96 H9@=6 D:EF2E:@? 56?:65 9:> 2446DD E@ 2 E62496C[ A66CD[ :?DECF4E:@?[ =F?49 H:E9 @E96C DEF56?ED[ E96 4276E6C:2[ =:3C2CJ D4:6?46 =23[ 6IEC24FCC:4F=2C 24E:G:E:6D[ 7:6=5 EC:AD[ 2?5 8J>[” E96 5F6 AC@46DD C6BF6DE DE2E6D] %96 6IE6?565 :D@=2E:@?[ E96 C6BF6DE D2JD[ 3C@<6 DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= DA64:2= 65F42E:@? C6BF:C6>6?ED]k^Am
k9bm$t%%{t|t}% pv#tt|t}%k^9bm
kAmp D6EE=6>6?E 28C66>6?E H2D D:8?65 $6AE] `f[ a_a_[ 3J E96 DEF56?E’D >@E96C 2?5 E96? $6AE] a` 3J E96?\$F==:G2? r@F?EJ s:C64E@C @7 $49@@=D s2G:5 r@I W?@H C6E:C65Xj pDD:DE2?E s:C64E@C p?86=2 qF4<=6D[ H9@ @G6CD66D DA64:2= 65F42E:@?j 2?5 q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? r92:C>2? #2?52== y@?6D]k^Am
kAm%96 28C66>6?E D2JD E96 DEF56?E H2D 8C2?E65 2 K@?:?8 6I6>AE:@? 2?5 6?C@==65 2E $F==:G2? }@CE9 w:89 $49@@= 7@C a_a_\a` 2?5 E92E 2D =@?8 2D 96 :D :? D49@@= :? $r$[ E96 D49@@= DJDE6> H:== “4@?EC24E H:E9 2 >FEF2==J 28C665 FA@? AC:G2E6 3@2C5\46CE:7:65 3692G:@C2= 2?2=JDE[” 2D H6== 2D 2 G@42E:@?2=^EC2?D:E:@? 2DD6DD>6?E AC:G2E6 AC@G:56C]k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm}@ 5@==2C 2>@F?E H2D 8:G6? 7@C E9@D6 6IA6?D6D] %96 D49@@= DJDE6> 2=D@ 925 E@ A2J :ED @H? 2EE@C?6J[ 3FE ?@ A2J>6?ED E@ 96C D9@H65 FA :? E96 `_hh =:DE 7C@> a_a_ E92E E96 DJDE6> AC@G:565] }@ A2J>6?E D9@H65 FA 7@C 4@?EC24E65 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? D6CG:46D[ 6:E96C]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9bm$rw~~{ q~p#s '~%tk^9bm
kAm%96 D6G6?\>6>36C q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@? 2AAC@G65 E96 ECFDE 7F?5 A2J>6?E @? }@G] d @? :ED 4@?D6?E 286?52] %96 >2EE6C H2D ?6G6C AF3=:4=J 5:D4FDD65] %92E 92AA6?65 @?=J 27E6C D49@@= @77:4:2=D D:8?65 E96 D6EE=6>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 3@2C5 G@E6 E@ “2FE9@C:K6 E96 tI64FE:G6 r@>>:EE66 E@ ?68@E:2E6 E6C>D @7 D6EE=6>6?E[” 42>6 27E6C 2? 6I64FE:G6 D6DD:@?[ 2 82E96C:?8 4=@D65 E@ E96 AF3=:4[ 62C=:6C E92E J62C] $49@@= @77:4:2=D H6C6 >F> 23@FE H9J E96 A2J>6?E 7@C 2 “DEF56?E =682= >2EE6C” H2D >256 @C 9@H E96 2>@F?E H2D 56E6C>:?65[ 6G6? 27E6C 36:?8 :?7@C>65 E92E :E H2D 2 >2EE6C @7 AF3=:4 C64@C5 :? 4@FCE 7:=6D]k^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>QmtI64FE:G6 D6DD:@?D 2C6 2==@H65 :? %6??6DD66 7@C AF3=:4 3@5:6D E@ 4@?D:56C AC6D6?E @C A6?5:?8 =:E:82E:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmy@?6D D2:5 96 H@F=5?’E D2J 2?JE9:?8 23@FE E96 >2EE6C 2?5 C676CC65 E@ E96 4@?D6?E 286?52 2?5 E96 3@2C5 >:?FE6D] r@I 2?5 :?E6C:> s:C64E@C tG6=J? #272=@HD<: 2=D@ 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmr@I 2?5 y@?6D H6C6 @? E96 tI64FE:G6 r@>>:EE66 2E E92E E:>6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$49@@= 3@2C5 2EE@C?6J !2E wF== 2=D@ D2:5 96 H@F=5 ?@E 4@>>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm“x 2AAC64:2E6 J@FC A6CD:DE6?46[ 3FE E9:D :?G@=G6D 2 4@?7:56?E:2= >2EE6C 2?5 x 5@ ?@E 36=:6G6 E96 AC6DD :D 6?E:E=65 E@ :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE :E[ ?@C 5@ x E9:?< 2?JE9:?8 D9@F=5 36 AF3=:D965 23@FE :E[” wF== DE2E6D :? 2 $6AE] ` 6>2:=65 C6DA@?D6 E@ BF6DE:@?D 23@FE E96 ECFDE 7F?5 A2J>6?E] “~E96C E92? E92E[ ?@ 4@>>6?E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp== 7@FC H6C6 :?E6CG:6H65 282:? E96 H66< @7 $6AE] `b 2?5 82G6 E96 D2>6 C6DA@?D6 27E6C 36:?8 2D<65 23@FE E96 4@FCE 7:=6D 2?5 E96 D6EE=6>6?E @7 C64@C5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm}@?6 @7 E96 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED :?5:42E65 2 ?@?\5:D4=@DFC6 28C66>6?E[ 2=E9@F89 E96 DEF56?E’D 2?5 >@E96C’D =2DE ?2>6 H2D C6524E65 3FE E96 7:CDE =6EE6C @7 E96:C =2DE ?2>6 8:G6?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmx>286D @7 E96 EH@ A286D H:E9 E96 :?7@C>2E:@?[ AC@G:565 :? C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 C64@C5D C6BF6DE[ 2C6 G:6H23=6 :? E96 @?=:?6 G6CD:@? @7 E9:D 2CE:4=6] %96 %:>6D }6HD C6524E65 E96 ?2>6 @7 E96 A6CD@? C646:G:?8 E96 36?67:E @7 E96 DA64:2= ECFDE 7F?5]k^DA2?mk^Am