Friedenthal

I want to share my experience with this school so other families are aware.As an LGBT parent, I experienced repeated disrespect from both the administration and staff. For example, during an IEP meeting, the school therapist rolled her eyes every time I spoke, which was both unprofessional and dismissive. When dropping off my child, the administrative team also showed a lack of respect and support.My son, who is autistic, often told me he did not like attending this school because of bullying and the lack of accommodations for his needs. Despite multiple requests for a classroom change to one better suited for autistic children, he remained in an environment that did not meet his learning needs. While the school’s IEP follow-up notes claimed that my son enjoyed attending, his daily struggles and private conversations with me told a very different story.Instead of receiving proper support, my son was often blamed for not paying attention. On difficult mornings, if he said I was being “mean,” staff took this literally and a teacher even reported me to Children and Youth. After a full investigation, no evidence of abuse was found, and Children and Youth actually supported me in moving my son to a different school. He now attends a school he loves and looks forward to every morning.It is also concerning that I later learned of other complaints regarding the mistreatment of Hispanic and LGBT families at this school. No parent or child should ever feel dismissed or discriminated against because of their background or family structure.While my son is now thriving elsewhere, I would caution families—especially those with children who have special needs or come from diverse backgrounds—to be aware of the challenges we faced here.