Special Needs Students Reportedly Kicked Out, Animals Evicted From Ag Program at Local School

UPDATE: The Media Relations Department of the Polk County School System has released a letter from McLaughlin Principal Diameshia H. Williams addressing a decision by "the administration" to remove the Exceptional Student Education Farm from the school campus. The entire text of the letter is reprinted below.

A valued program that allows special needs students to participate with others in an agricultural program at a Lake Wales school is reportedly being terminated, to the dismay of many.

News file photo

A giant African tortoise named Walter provides valued hand-on therapy for students at McLaughlin Middle-High School in Lake Wales. Special Needs students are now reportedly being rejected from the Agriculture programs and the animals evicted from the campus on South 4th Street in Lake Wales.

According to sources who have reached out to Lake Wales News, deadlines have been placed upon Exceptional Special Education (ESE) staff to dispose of therapeutic farm animals Including an African tortoise named Walter who has become emblematic of the school's program, "by the end of the month."

According to reports from parents and teachers at McLaughlin Middle-High School, the popular program will be terminated as the Polk County School Board has decided to eliminate the special ed ag program, reportedly because "the students cannot perform the curriculum requirements."

Donkeys, goats, and other farm animals are also scheduled for eviction by the Board. Doing so "will have everlasting effects on the handicapped children and the animals who have become attached to the children," said one person with knowledge of the plan, who asked to remain anonymous.

Lake Wales News staff reached out to the public information office of the Polk County School Board and was informed only that "school and district staff...are working on some information that will be shared with families."

"These students, our children, have disabilities," one parent wrote. "Physical, emotional, or mental, regardless of their handicap, these exceptional students deserve the same learning opportunities as their peers. They deserve to experience the therapy the animals provide. "

News file photo

Parents and students have interacted with the various animals included in the McLaughlin Ag program. Agriculture and ESE students alike benefit from the animal husbandry program at the school, which is in the midst of being converted from a Middle School to ad grades nine through 12. The animals are now being evicted by school administrators for reasons that have not been shared with parents or the public.

"Parents of handicapped students have been advised their children are no longer able to attend Ag anymore because they cannot perform the classroom requirements. These parents have voiced their concerns with Principal Williams and the School Board Members with very little response," a parent said.

Lake Wales News followed that with a call to the school's principal but received no response.

An instructor contacted by Lake Wales News confirmed that ESE students "deserve the opportunity, protected by federal law, to engage in agriculture programs whether they can "perform the standard curriculum" or not. I.E.P.s are educational requirements that are 'student specific,' drafted by the ESE teacher and or ESE coordinator. That enables these very special children to engage in the educational opportunities afforded to all students, regardless of their limitations.

That instructor said that they could not have their name in print on the matter "without jeopardizing my career."

"Distinct federal regulations require "equal educational opportunities" to our handicapped children," the teacher added.

Despite that, one parent "was instructed that her child will no longer participate in the Agriculture class because of their disability," the News was told.

McLaughlin staff members have reportedly been ordered not to discuss anything with parents or students. Getting rid of the farm animals has already begun. Walter, the ESE program tortoise, is scheduled for eviction this week.

"Why the (Polk County Schools) Board wants to get rid of the therapy animals and why the ESE children can no longer participate in Ag makes no sense to anyone! We are all left with unanswered questions and have been ordered silent," a parent told Lake Wales News, calling it "a very upsetting situation (for) the children being affected by the Board's actions."

A letter from Diameshia H. Williams, principal of the school, leaves unanswered the question of where the animals will be housed in the future, stating both that "our on-campus agriculture program would be a viable option to absorb many of the animals from the Exceptional Student Education Farm" and that "we are looking to relocate several animals within 30 days to a local sanctuary due to the lack of resources and space required for the larger animals; including a cow, several donkeys, and a tortoise."