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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> So what do I do now?
        
(Message started by: JenniferD on May 5^th, 2006, 3:56pm)

Title: So what do I do now?
Post by JenniferD on May 5^th, 2006, 3:56pm

here's the scoop:

My son has been expelled, and must be enrolled in either alternative/night school or homeschooled.

I still haven't found a job, but searching diligently and have an interview on Weds for a crappy paying crappy shift job (nights/weekends and whenever else I'm told to jump). The total monthly pay isn't even enough to pay our mortgage.

So I tried some damage control, requesting a review of the decision and have him enrolled in school as an out-of-school suspension and do his work at home. I explained to the sch superintendent the extreme financial situation this is placing us in - I won't be able to work full-time having to drive him back and forth to night school, and part-time job won't do shit for us finanncially. Oh, and my unemployment benefits (pitiful at best is more than the full-time job I am interviewing for!) expires in 3 weeks.

His response, and I quote: "I understand that providing him transportation to and from the school board office for the purpose of attending teh regional alternative school is placing you in a hardship situation. Please understand that it was the actions of Harry that has led to this hardship." In other words: tough fuckin luck if you can't pay your bills.

So, home school is not an option: cost per course is about $250.00 x 5 courses. I'M FUGGIN UNEMPLOYED AND CAN'T AFFORD IT.

Next problem: if he isn't enrolled within 5 days, today being day 5, the code of virginia states that I am contributing to the delinquency of a minor, class 1 misdemeanor, punishable with a fine up to $2500.00.

There are 29 days left of school. So what the hell do I do now? :(

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by floridian on May 5^th, 2006, 4:08pm

Enroll him in the alternative school, even if you can't afford to drive him there. That will buy you some time.

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by Jonny on May 5^th, 2006, 4:21pm

on 05/05/06 at 16:08:15, floridian wrote:

Enroll him in the alternative school, even if you can't afford to drive him there. That will buy you some time.

And then see if you can get an equity line of credit to buy you more time till you figure everything out.

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by medic1852 on May 5^th, 2006, 4:25pm

Ask the Judge for his advice since his infinite wisdom expects you to be able to afford this. Ask him if your son if old enough can pay for the school by doing community service. Dont be hostile just ask him how this order is supposed to magicaly happen.
Rodger

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by alchemy on May 5^th, 2006, 4:35pm

some mortgage companies will set up deferred payments. you usually have to pay a fraction of the amount to set it in motion. it might buy some time.

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by karma on May 5^th, 2006, 4:55pm

I would never advise someone to go into more debt in order to resolve an already precarious financial situation.
Your son seems to be one that needs something more than a traditional education style can offer. I can't name any specfic schools or programs but there are programs available for kids like your son.
If it was me I would forget about this school year and all the stress involved in trying to get him enrolled to finish out this year. Use the next couple of months to sort out your financial troubles while researching a program that will suite your sons needs.
It sounds to me like this kid won't be helped by having a traditional high school diploma but may be helped by an equivilant that specializes in more of a science/computer skill.
In the meantime find him a summer job to help with the expenses.

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by JenniferD on May 5^th, 2006, 5:02pm

ok, how's this for a loophole?

the va dept of education guidelines state the following regarding homeschooling:
Parents who begin home instruction after the school year has begun must notify the superintendent of their intent to provide home instruction as soon as practicable and comply with the provisions of the statute within thirty days of such notice.

Should take me a couple of days to fill out the form, a few days for mailing the form and stating on the form that we are assessing his educational needs and researching the necessary instructional aids and plans for his education, and we will comply with the statute within the 30 day timeframe.

Think it will work?

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by tanner on May 5^th, 2006, 5:33pm

sounds like a plan to me jen. stall and then maybe look into karma's suggestion. if harry is not old enough yet to legally drop out and go the ged route which i believe in VA. is 16. then the odds of a traditional diploma doing him any good are slim.

to many times now a days kids are labeled as bad or having adaeiou or some such crap when the fact is that they have minds that work outside the traditional educational box.

i was thrown out of Chicago public schools completely and then a year later out of an exclusive expensive catholic prep school my parents had paid up for just stay out of the same kind off trouble you are talking about with the state.

i went shrinks was threatened with a school for delinquent kids all kinds of crap and then some unknown benefactor invited me downtown Chicago to take a test being given by Britannica " the encyclopedia people". turned out my brain did not process information like everyone else. I only learned and retained info from reading so I was simply bored stiff in classroom situations.

I ended up riding the train downtown for 3 months which is how long it took me to test out of junior and senior years and ended up with a diploma from the same school that had originally kicked me out.

just a thought................tim

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by JenniferD on May 5^th, 2006, 9:28pm

thanks for the input y'all. Guess this pretty much blows my chances at the job posting for secretary/receptionist at the school board, huh? I sent the app/resume regardless, but after this, I doubt I'll even get a call for an interview.

Title: Re: So what do I do now?
Post by Charlie on May 6^th, 2006, 1:32am

Quote:

Ask the Judge for his advice since his infinite wisdom expects you to be able to afford this

Keep asking and asking everybody about this all the time. If you're lucky, you'll connect with someone. There are a lot of people that are dying to show you how good they are at doing stuff they believe you cannot do. It works.

Charlie