Donuel,

If you feel the nurse is being unreasonable, the first person you should talk to is the nurse. If you feel that she is in error as to what is appropriate, you need to talk to her about it. Part of this is so imply a matter of form--"the right thing to do"--but the other part of it is that it gives you the only real opportunity you will have to hear her arguments against you-- take a little recorder--make sure you put it on the table so she can see it.

Before you talk to the nurse, though, you need to get the MCPS policy on expulsions and suspensions, and determine what their formal appeal procedure is. You need to do this so that when you talk to the nurse, you are aware of what your options are. The more you know, the more power you have.

After you talk to the nurse, you should talk to the principal again, and ask why your son hasn't been admitted, and ask when, and under what circumstances, he will be admitted.

The schools have a legal obligation to provide a free education, and they have to have a very good arguement if they decide not to accept your son(in which case, they generally have to pay for a private one). As a general principle, this would be either because he was a threat to public safety, or a threat to public health. They can't apply a different standard to him than they use for other kids--The principal knows this, and ought to have a nice, clear explanation that makes perfect sense, and satisfies you--

If he doesn't , it's probably time to go forward with the formal complaint process--at the same time, it wouldn't hurt to start telling your story to a few attorneys, because you may need at least one.


One thing more, which I hope you won't take the wrong way, but don't talk about "religion", or the fact that the nurse is Asian-American, or about any dubious motives that you think she might have, and don't play any other head games.

None of that stuff will help you. If you bring it up, it will just make things worse. And the one who will suffer is your kid.

This stuff is just a suggestion, not legal advice, I am not a lawyer. I am a neighbor, though,and a parent with a kid in MCPS--Weast and company are tough customers, and you've got to stand tall and shoot straight if you want to win--