Parents File Complaint With Texas Education Agency Against ECISD
An Odessa mom and dad are going up against the Ector County School District. Their son is a special needs student, who they say, requires a certain amount of physical and occupational therapy.
According to his parents, the district didn't provide that. So they took their complaint to the Texas Education Agency.
Paul and Cynthia McCoy are going up against Ector County Independent School District.
"I know what my son needs, and they know what they want to give or what they're willing to give. So you butt heads until you get what you need," Cynthia said.
Their son needs physical and occupational therapy.
"My son had a stroke at birth and his left side was affected," Cynthia said.
The McCoy's moved from Wyoming to Texas last summer, and thought their child would receive the same care. Cynthia said that's not the case.
"He didn't get the services he needed in the summer time. He hasn't gotten the proper OT so he's actually gone backwards. He's not doing the things he used to do," she said.
The McCoys filed a complaint with the Texas Education Agency. The TEA reported back to them with their findings in just a few weeks. According to the TEA's report, Cynthia's son did not get the services he needed. The report also found that 27 other students in the district weren't receiving physical and occupational therapy until nearly 30 days into the school year.
"We come to find out there wasn't a physical therapist on staff," Cynthia said.
The TEA report said there wasn't a physical therapist for the first 27 days of the 2012-2013 school year. ECISD said they have contracted a physical therapist but still have an opening for an occupational therapist. ECISD officials told NewsWest 9, this is still an on-going situation, therefore they couldn't comment, but the district does not agree with the report's findings.
"We do, Ector County, does provide those therapy services at complete accordance with state and federal laws. We don't agree with all the findings in that TEA report and that's part of the reason the process is still going on," ECISD Spokesman, Mike Adkins, said.
In the TEA's report, the district is required to compensate the 28 students for the therapy they didn't receive, as well as provide proof.
"Therapy or any service provided to a student are going to be a little bit different depending on the student's circumstances and their needs," Adkins said.
Still, the McCoys said this has been a very frustrating situation for them.
"We'd sooner buy helmets and have two-a-day practices and throw everything that way and forget about other individuals. It's very difficult," Paul said.
Paul and Cynthia said their son is getting more physical therapy and the therapist is working to make up for time lost. However, they said they are still having issues getting their child occupational therapy.