OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (WDAF) — Over the objections of multiple parents, the Blue Valley School Board in Overland Park, Kan., voted Monday night to terminate a kindergarten teacher with more than 25 years of experience.
“Mrs. Hart is our safeguard. Every parent should want someone like her as their child’s teacher,” parent Leah Karchin said of the teacher, Barb Hart.
The district fired Hart for violating a policy on Emergency Safety Intervention. Parents packed the Blue Valley School Board meeting, telling leaders that it’s the policy itself — and not a veteran teacher — that failed a student.
The district didn’t discuss the specifics of how Hart violated the policy, but friends and parents of former students say they believe Hart had the student’s best interests at heart. They wore shirts with the letters “BH” surrounded by a heart in support of the Sunset Ridge Elementary teacher.
“She spends every off hour working on things for her kids. She spends her own money on art projects. She literally goes above and beyond. She’s every district’s dream employee,” Karchin said.
Two weeks ago, according to parents, Hart was called to the hallway by a colleague to assist with a special education student. The child was stuck in a loop, and wasn’t responding to directions despite the educators’ best efforts, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
“The policy for Blue Valley is to not touch the child and just let them flounder. Where she gave dignity to that child, scooped them up, got them into a safe space where they were not on display for everybody else to see,” parent Tiffany McCalla said.
The addendum to Monday’s agenda said Hart would be fired for violating policy 3522. This policy says district personnel may use seclusion and/or physical restraint only when less restrictive alternatives are determined by a school employee to be inappropriate or ineffective, and when a student’s behavior presents an immediate danger to self or others.
“The child is scared, they are looking for a trusted adult to guide them and to sometimes make decisions that ensure their well-being. If compassionate responses to these mental needs are punishable under Policy 3522, then the system is failing both our teachers and our students,” said Jenny Stilley, a parent of a child with special needs.
“Please trust our teachers, equip them with the necessary training and support, trust their hearts are in the right place and show our children that compassion for others is the lesson that truly matters,” parent Kari Fernando said.
“I agree with nearly everything that was being said regarding that policy,” Board Vice President Clay Norkey said during Monday’s meeting.
But Norkey said the policy is based on state laws and guidelines. The Board approved Hart’s termination by a 6-1 vote, with only Jim McMullen voting against it. The district sent Nexstar’s WDAF the following statement after the meeting”
Blue Valley Schools understands that this personnel matter feels close for many in the school community. Personnel decisions are carefully reviewed to ensure alignment with board policy, applicable law and the rights of all individuals involved. Out of respect for all involved and in accordance with the law, we are not able to share additional details. Our focus remains on supporting our students, staff and school communities while maintaining the confidentiality and dignity that situations like this require, while upholding the community’s high expectations of our schools.
“To see her life turned upside down and to see everything she ever worked for taken away overnight is unimaginable, especially because she’s being targeted for being kind,” Karchin said.