Central WI -
My advocacy services were attained by a Native Amer. Agency for an
18yr old Native American student. Parent of student has addictive
behavior and not involved in student's education. Parent and child
move from relative to relative...off and on.

At the time the student was attending HS one hour a day. NO
TRANSITION PLAN...well, actually it said "will complete hs".

Called for an immediate IEP meeting. Managed to get student back on a
regular full schedule...oh, the PLOP that the HS gave was from test
scrores taken 2 years ago..no one had a clue to the student's present
level. Yes, UNREAL. Oh school personnel wanted to know what
the "Nation" (tribe) would do and pay for?!?!?!?!?!?!

Started the needed steps to attain full scale assesments including an
audiological. Student was very happy about the changes and thrilled
to be back in school full days.

One day I went to HS on some other business, saw student standing
alone in hallway. I asked the student what was wrong. Student said "I
was thrown out of class" just then an administrator at the school
approached me and asked if I wanted to talk to the teacher...I said
sure and made it clear that while my visit was not for this purpose I
would be more than willing to help out.

Talked to teacher, teacher shared concerns about student's mental
health and student needing assesments. I asked teacher to help back
up our requests for evaluations, teacher said school doesn't want to
pay...I told the teacher I understood the predictiment the teacher
was in but the student needed to be the focus not the school's
pocketbook.

Just then the principal came. He escorted me to a meeting room. I
called the Native Amer. counselor I was working for. Asked him to
come to the school. When he arrived he met me in the meeting room.
Principal then proceeded to lecture us about being on school grounds
and threatened to call the police to have us removed...I JUST LOVE
WHEN THEY DO THAT! I said please do, so I could also file a police
report...ahh principal decided not to call the police.

Managed to get student back in class, we left the school and
debreifed on our next move.

A few days later I received a letter from District's attoneys
(Lathrop and Clark...they're everywhere out here) Letter had a
document with it..SUPPOSEDLY the school guidance counselor witnessed
the student signing the document resinding my and the Native Amer.
Counselor's services...we were then officially banned from school
proprety.

Called all the various WI social services agencies. Tried to locate
the student off school grounds...couldn't find him. A couple of weeks
later he surfaced in a county jail, he had violated a probation by
not attending school. We went to visit him in jail, showed him the
document, student claimed to have no idea about the document and
claimed he never signed it. He had no clue to why we were not working
with him...oh yes, my blood was RACING.

This is where the story is at now. The counselor, the probation
officer, other social service agencies and I are working out a plan
to get this kid in a safe environment and into transtional housing.

I am so sickened by what this school did! It's not over, that I can
promise...it's just begun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOW DO THESE PEOPLE SLEEP AT NIGHT...I JUST DON'T GET IT. I SPEND MY
NIGHTS CRYING FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO THIS YOUNG MAN!

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON ADDITIONAL RECOURSE WOULD BE WELCOMED!

I AM GOING TO THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN ON THIS ONE!!!!!!

I've been advocating for many Native American students at many school
districts throughout central WI. I am noticing that first I must get
through a layer of racial discrimination before we can even touch on
the IEP issues. You wouldn't believe what I've heard and seen. As a
non native I am truly embarrassed for what is happening. I was
shocked when I moved from the Chicago area to out here...I never
would have thought this was going on.

Eva