MARYSVILLE, Wash. (KIRO) – A mother in Washington state said her daughter with special needs was placed on a school bus without socks or shoes on her feet.
The incident allegedly happened last week during the first major rainstorm of the season.
Disiree Peterson said her 7-year-old daughter is autistic, nonverbal and requires special attention.
Her daughter attends Marysville’s Grove Elementary. Peterson said on Monday of last week, she received photos from her daughter’s teacher to show Peterson how disruptive her child was in the classroom.
Peterson acknowledges her daughter has very special needs. So, when the teacher sent the photographs, Peterson said she called the teacher back immediately, but her calls went unanswered.
Peterson then received an email saying her daughter was sent home on the bus, barefoot.
“She was screaming and crying when she got home that her feet hurt,” Peterson said. “I looked at her feet, and her feet were muddy, wet, and so cold they were purple.”
Peterson blames not only the teacher but the bus driver, too. Peterson said the bus driver placed the child in a safety harness, which restrains her hands, but left her barefoot.
“The school knows she needs one-on-one, and she’s in an enclosed classroom due to autism,” Peterson said.
The mom is also upset that the school didn’t contact her to pick up her child instead of putting her on the bus.
“There’s three people that can be there in 15 minutes [to pick her up]. And even emailing the teacher. I emailed the teacher to tell her ‘I am on my way to get her,’ and there was no response,” Peterson said.
The district said the teacher has been removed from the classroom, but Peterson alleges her daughter is still complaining about being mistreated at school.
She is fearful about what could happen next to her daughter at school, and she is still upset about the barefoot bus ride.
“It was the coldest, wettest day we’ve had so far,” Peterson said.
A spokesperson for the school district said the safety of all their students is a top priority, so they are investigating the teacher’s alleged actions. However, they said they cannot comment on the allegations further.
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