Cougar Mountain Middle School

My children came in the middle of the school year and the teachers were amazing at helping them integrate. The next year, was even better. COVID-19 happened and distance learning became the new thing, but teachers were open, honest, and communicative about the situation. As we start the next year distance learning, things were a tough start but they are committed to my kids.

My child went to this school for almost 2 years. The staff knew that my son had dietary restrictions. I offered to get a note from the doctor but they declined. My child started coming home and was really sick. The teacher admitted they had been giving stuff they were not allowed to have and hadn’t ever had in their life. Then the school district says we can work with you about what to give your child. Why was that not done in the first place? No notice just a oops we meant to tell you that we planned to give your child something we knew would make them sick but we forgot to send the email? If they are willing to do that without my permission what else are they doing? We send our kids to school thinking they are going to be safe and they harmed my child who is nonverbal and was really counting on them. After the incident I was speaking with another parent that claimed their pediatrician warned them not to send their child to Rocky ridge. They said the state was investigating them for the way they were treating their special needs children. It’s not my pediatrician so I’m not sure how true that is but after what happened I find it very believable. My child started coming home from school crying saying that someone boped them. I assumed it was a child and the teachers were dealing with it but after what the teachers pulled and how the district handled it I don’t know and now have concerns an adult was hurting them. All I know is once my child started coming home in tears everyday and when asked if they had a good day at school shook their head no. Then to have the teacher give them food that made them violently ill and the district doing nothing I pulled them out. Now they are homeschooled and doing so much better. Learning way more and actually speaking in full sentences. In their after school activities they never cry or say anything negative about their teachers so I know that something is NOT right at that school. Run as fast as you can. I’m working on getting my other child out of this horrible school district so they can be safe and treated with respect. Even the office staff was really rude about what happened. It was really disappointing. I really put my trust into them and it feels very violating to have had this happen. It has been really hard on my child and has caused them a lot of mental anguish. Please keep your kids safe and do everything you can to get them away from Bethel schools.

The special education program needs more support and funding. I feel that they are overworked, short staffed, and is in need of para educators. It is not a good feeling to know your child is in a program to get them up to speed when the support isn't there, the level of support isn't adequate, and kids are paying the price. I really don't know where to put ratings on the school & teachers because there are so many holes that need to be filled before making a complete judgement of the school. This isn't school specific necessarily but a common and hugely neglected aspect of education.

So today I went in to register my daughter for kindergarten she's my first child and I am a mess about her going to school, with that said I want to thank the office staff especially the one that helped me today she was so informative and helpful she was nice and even showed us around the school because my daughter ask. I went in feeling very overwhelmed and am thankful to leave a little more at ease. Thankyou