WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Mother with autistic child battling Oldham County Schools

Mother with autistic child battling Oldham County Schools

By Connie Leonard 

LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- Push has come to shove in Oldham County as a mother with an autistic son is battling the school system. In March 2008, Jeanie Montgomery removed her nine year old from an elementary school after finding out he had been put in a small time-out room more than 90 times. Now, school officials are not only saying no to her request for in-home education, they are threatening to take the Montgomery to court.

"I didn't know what happened to my son but, I knew he'd been traumatized somehow," said Montgomery."

Her nine year old son Matthew, who has severe autism, visited special needs school Pitt Academy on Monday. Montgomery withdrew Matthew from Crestwood Elementary on March 31, after she says he came home acting more aggressive and looked different too. 

"He came home with petechiae all over his face," Montgomery said.

The condition causing the red spots starts with extreme crying and yelling. Montgomery says bumps, cuts and bruises also started appearing on her son. She hired behavior analyst Chris George who, according to Montgomery, went to the school and saw a teacher putting Matthew in a small, dimly lit, time-out room -- similar to a closet -- with a lock on the door. 

"During a four hour observation, he saw Matthew locked in the closet four times," says Montgomery.

Montgomery says at one time she had agreed time out was a fair correction, but soon she found out through school records that from October to December, Matthew was put into the small room 97 times.

"I don't believe locking him in a closet almost one hundred times is appropriate," says Montgomery.

Matthew's behavior therapist Meghan Launius says it certainly isn't.

"The fact that it's been used that frequently and his behaviors are just getting worse shows that is not an effective technique to use with him," said Launius.

After meeting with school officials, Montgomery says she learned, "They were doing two-person floor restraints on Matthew while he was on his stomach which is totally inappropriate." 

Oldham County Schools spokesperson Rebecca DeSensi agrees complaints about the door lock are legitimate.

"Once the lock was found, it was immediately removed and it wasn't put on the door under the awareness of the administration," DeSensi said in an interview with WAVE 3. 

Montgomery requested a transfer for her son, but it was denied. Matthew has not been back to class and that is why school officials are threatening to take Montgomery and her husband to court for truancy.

Maintaining there are two sides to the story, Oldham County School officials say Montgomery has been very difficult and they are trying to work with her. 

"We've done everything we can do and will continue to work with this family and other families," DeSensi said.

DeSensi told WAVE 3 the school system is seeking truancy charges against Montgomery and her husband because missing that many classes violates the district's policy. In addition, DeSensi says two letters from physicians on Matthew's behalf were not detailed enough for home education service. 

The school system tells WAVE 3 they are still willing to work with the family. In the meantime, the Montgomery family has filed a complaint for a due process hearing. 

Online Reporter:  Connie Leonard 

Online Producer: Charles Gazaway