Beyond the Blackboard

Report: Autopsy Inconclusive in Death of Boy on Bus

The OC Register reports an autopsy performed on Kevin Cisler, of Aliso Viejo did not yield the full answer why the 3-year-old special needs boy died on a Capistrano Unified School District bus that was taking him home Friday from class at RH Dana.

Here's the report.

Back to Normal at Dana Hills High School

An air handler went out at Dana Hills High this morning, causing a partial evacuation of the campus about 7:40 a.m.

The school wasn't very crowded -- there was no zero period today.

No injuries were reported.

Capistrano Chamber Hosting Round Table on 'Facebook' and Schools

The Capistrano Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “School Leaders Round Table” to discuss Facebook in schools from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday at St. Margaret’s Episcopal School on Calle Arroyo.

The public is invited to the October 26 event. Leaders from each educational organization in Capistrano have been asked to participate.

The discussion is titled “Facebook: Friend or Foe?” and will encompass social media on campuses, specifically with how schools are addressing student use of Facebook, when off-campus use of Facebook becomes an on-campus issue, how schools address teachers’ use of Facebook and how schools are using the social media program for marketing and communications.

The panel will include: Anne Mack (Director of Communications and Marketing, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School) and Kathy Bari from CUSD Technology Services. The panel will also include two students in order to include their perspective.

The round table will be in the Tartan Center at St. Margarets, 27461 Calle Arroyo, and parking is available in front of Pasternack Field House.

RSVP to Ryan Dahlem, a member of the Chamber’s Education Committee, at 949.661.0108, ext. 275. For more information, contact the Chamber at 949.493.4700.

More on Tuesday's Meeting: Behave!

Capo Unified has posted a memo on "procedures for board meeting" on its Web site.

Addressing what's expected to be an overflow crowd, with teachers coming on buses and all, the district is reminding folks that they can't stand in aisles (I think this means the back of the room, too) nor "disturb" the meeting. Leave those signs at home ... or outside.

Speaking of outside, if you leave the room, you have to get your hand stamped to get back in, sort of like a nightclub or amusement park.

Doors open at 5 p.m., seating is first-come, first-served ...

Here's the policy. Download CUSD Procedures for Board Meeting[1]

CUSD: No Liability for Student's Suicide

Martindale over at the Register has been working hard. This just posted:

A lawsuit that alleges school administrators failed to stop the "blatant and ongoing" bullying leading up to a 16-year-old student's suicide is a case of misplaced blame in the wake of a tragedy, the Capistrano Unified School District is arguing, with the school district neither legally nor morally responsible.

In court papers  filed last week in Orange County Superior Court, attorney Daniel Spradlin said Capistrano Unified should not be held liable for student Daniel Mendez's death, which took place off school grounds and was, at most, an unintended consequence of employees exercising their professional discretion.

"Anytime a parent loses a child under any circumstances, it's a horrible thing," Spradlin said. "I understand and sympathize with the parents. However, this is a misplaced effort to say the school district is responsible. We're trying to respond in a way that acknowledges the loss of the parents, but also recognizes that legally the school district is not responsible for this occurrence."

-- Skip --

Spradlin, however, cites state law that says public employees, including educators, are not responsible for any injuries that may result from exercising their professional discretion in the course of performing their duties.

California Government Code Section 820.2 states: "Except as otherwise provided by statute, a public employee is not liable for an injury resulting from his act or omission where the act or omission was the result of the exercise of the discretion vested in him, whether or not such discretion be abused."

Here's the entire story.

Family Sues Over Student Suicide, Alleging Harrassment

The family of a San Clemente High School student who shot himself to death in May has filed a lawsuit alleging school officials ignored repeated complaints of bullying and harassment that drove the boy to take his life.

In the Orange County Superior Court lawsuit filed August 28, Santa Ana attorney James R. Traut says Daniel Mendez and his parents told school officials about bullying and harassment—primarily from two older boys—but failed to follow policies to stop it.

“This is a case about the failure of an Orange County public school to protect a young student from pervasive bullying by other students and racial harassment,” the lawsuit reads. “While a student, Daniel Mendez experienced blatant and ongoing bullying and harassment by fellow students. Administrators were notified about the harassment and, yet, failed to investigate properly or discipline the responsible parties. Daniel Mendez ultimately committed suicide as a result of administrators’ failure to investigate and stop the harassment and bullying.”

The bullying, the lawsuit says, drove Mendez to break into a locked cabinet at home, load a revolver, drive to a friend's house and shoot himself. The suit does not set an amount sought, but an earlier claim wanted $3 million to go to the Orangewood Children's Home.

Here's a copy of the lawsuit

 

Here's a link to our online story.