Comments on: Formal Discrimination Complaint Filed Against LWSD

By: Liz Lasater

Liz Lasater — Fri, 13 May 2022 02:54:04 +0000

I am so sad to read what the teacher has been subjected too. Bringing history and culture to life in such a vibrant way brings curiosity and imagination to young minds.

By: asianadmin

asianadmin — Tue, 10 May 2022 16:54:06 +0000

In reply to MB.

Yes. An appeal to LWSD’s decision to deny discrimination violations, refuse access to public records, and issue a public apology was filed on May 10th: https://waasians4equality.org/2022/05/10/appeal-to-lwsds-response-to-discrimination-complaint/

By: Appeal to LWSD's Response to Discrimination Complaint - WA Asians For Equality

Appeal to LWSD's Response to Discrimination Complaint - WA Asians For Equality — Tue, 10 May 2022 16:40:56 +0000

[…] filed a formal discrimination complaint against LWSD on March 31st. On May 2nd, LWSD ruled against our complaint and denied our request for information […]

By: MB

MB — Thu, 05 May 2022 03:49:12 +0000

Are there any updates?

By: Haiyan Yu

Haiyan Yu — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 19:30:32 +0000

Well done. Thanks for your strong support.

By: Gary Yang

Gary Yang — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 01:17:18 +0000

Well said. I am supportive. Appropriation means taking something as your own. It is not the case here.

By: YingC

YingC — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 20:09:20 +0000

If open discussion and communication doesn’t work, the solution is through legal procedures. 100% support these efforts!

By: asianadmin

asianadmin — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 18:43:41 +0000

In reply to Tracy Lathrop-Smith. Tracy, we are sorry to hear about your son's experience and what you have been through. We share your frustration. Just like you, we are grassroots without deep pockets or connections. However, we are determined to fight this one. At this stage, we are following the OSPI complaining process. If that fails, with our community's support, we may explore other options.

By: Lucia Liu

Lucia Liu — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 18:43:33 +0000

Great efforts to bring justice to Chinese American community!

We are not silent lambs anymore.

By: Tracy Lathrop-Smith

Tracy Lathrop-Smith — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 17:41:32 +0000

My name is Tracy Smith. My disabled black Autistic son was left behind by this school district in March 2020. I was a career paraeducator with the district. Part of my job requirements by law was to report harm. I did just that in March 2018. I was retaliated for this action in which I believe ultimately led to my son being disconnected from learning and forced me to resign to care for my own sons health and well being. I advocated for Asian students with disabilities as a paraeducator for the Transition Academy(builiding space issues/physical harm to students & staff. I witnessed harm again and reported these concerns to board members Sage and Stuart, P. and community directors P. Vine & S. McGrath as well as J. Stavem the former superintendent. My son now 20 still is not connected to the education he had prior to March 11, 2020. He was an 11th grader at the time. He never was reconnected and in turn did not graduate. He will be 21 next March and ultimately will never see his so called federally protected education. I filed two complaints to OSPI in 2020. OSPI errored on my first complaint and never check to see if LWSD completed corrective action, which should have been completed Aug 10, 2020. It was not completed. After the retaliation escalated I made the difficult career ending decision to resign. I tried to find equitable legal help but was cut off because those that knew me and my son were no where to be seen as they continually went forward preaching equity-inclusion-diversity. I tried to speak on Washington States HB 1076 in March 2021 for the Workers Whistleblowers Protection Bill. But no legislator saw its importance and it died in Ways and Means never to be brought up again. I wrote all my legislators but again our plight fell on ears not willing to listen to parents concern but to believe disability advocates from area that their was nothing nefarious going on in the district. Our family fell into financial despair and ultimately right into the EPRAP eviction moratorium. We did not exit that till Dec 2021 when I made the hardest decision to move my son back to his birth state of KY. He still is not connected to education and we are not yet at a stable point to even search out disability legal help here. To read this to today I am disheartened that those with money and networks can get civil justice complaints filed yet for former educators and parents of students of color do not get access to the same help. I am still in search of equitable legal help and would love to share with your organization and those that are representing you in this civil rights case to hear our story and help find educational justice for my son. My info is below