NORWICH – “My child deserves an education, it is his legal right,” said Philip Bedford, just one of the many public speakers at Tuesday’s Norwich city school board meeting.
For roughly 45 minutes, teachers, family members and the parents of a child within the Norwich district took the stage to address the board. The child’s parents, Jean and Philip Bedford, spoke first about their son, who they adopted just a short time ago.
Jean expressed grief as she spoke, saying when she met the child who would later become her son, she was working with the bridging program at Stanford Gibson school. “The first day of bridging, he told me his mother didn’t love him,” said Jean.
In a short time, Jean learned what the child said had been the truth and for roughly a year, the child would be shuffled from home to home to anyone who would watch him, including his father, who is a registered sex offender.
Jean explains she was fond of the child and did what she could to see to it he was being cared for outside of the school environment. In time, Jean and her husband took the child on weekends for visitation. Jean described to the board the child’s living conditions before he came to live with her. “There were no books, no toys, nothing,” said Jean.
After becoming the child’s mother, Jean explained further problems have made the transition even harder. Jean says she is aware her child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other behavior problems, although, she says she believes the administration and faculty at Gibson school are not taking the appropriate actions in handling the situation.
The past school year, Jean explains, has been more than trying for her child. Superintendent hearings have been held and two out-of-school suspensions have transpired, ultimately leading to this seven year old child being permanently removed from the building for the rest of the year.
The parents allege school officials wanted the child permanently removed and that other incidents were involved leading to the suspension of their child. The boy is currently receiving an hour of general education every day as outlined by state standards for children who get suspended. Currently he has missed roughly 38 days of school this year alone.
Jean, her husband, various family members and teachers from the district spoke about the child to explain to the board what a quality education can provide for the child, many saying he loves school and does not understand what is happening.
Jean explained to the board the incidents which have occurred at the school were not isolated and she does not condone the behavior of her son, saying also she doesn’t know where to go next. The most recent incident occurring at Gibson leading to his final suspension could not be discussed in the public comment portion of the meeting.
“I took in this child to offer him a better life,” says Jean, also stating now that she has him, she is fighting to get him a better education. Jean says she was denied the opportunity to speak her mind to Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan on two separate occasions, saying when she called him, he explained to her that she sounded too emotional and hung up the phone.
Bedford says she wants the board to be called to action and investigate the allegations, and allow her child to finish the remaining of the year in the school environment.
Speaking on behalf of her nephew, Eileen Hoffman says she can’t imagine the situation with the child is the only one happening in the district. She spoke to the board regarding what she would like to see happen and said the response from both the superintendent and school officials is unacceptable. She said her sister loves her child, therefore when she gets emotional it is not surprising.
Hoffman said students need to be provided services they are entitled to, the waiting list to get children into special education classrooms should be eliminated and a policy for early intervention needs to be made.
In a phone conversation with Philip Bedford, he also said he doesn’t understand how the judge at the Superintendent’s hearing can be unbiased when he is gettting paid by the district.
Philip said his child has special needs but he is not a bad child, explaining his son has experienced more in his seven years of life than some people ever experience in a lifetime.
He explains he and his wife have looked into other options, but he feels he is a part of this community and does not feel he has to move to get his child an education.