Cheryl Veres, RN

308 Lawndale St
Grayling, MI 49738

November 18, 2013

Mr. Robert Hove

Michigan Dept. of Special Education
608 West Allegan St.
Lansing, MI 48909

Dear Mr. Hove,

It is my belief that educational systems should provide a safe environment. Special education
requires additional safety precautions due to the vulnerability of this student population and the
nature of the environment in which special education is provided. Surveillance equipment
facilitates the process by which suspicious, inappropriate, or violent behavior from staff can be
examined. Without it, the students are at risk and this becomes a liability for the school.
According to the World health Organization (2013), children with disabilities are 3.7 times
more likely than non-disabled children to be victims of any sort of violence, 3.6 times more
likely to be victims of physical violence, and 2.9 times more likely to be victims of sexual
violence. Children with mental or intellectual impairments appear to be the most vulnerable, with
4.6 times the risk of sexual violence than their non-disabled peers.
My non-verbal and mentally impaired child attends the Crawford, Oscoda, Ogemaw,
Roscommon Intermediate School District (C.O.O.R. ISD), which is a special education school in
Roscommon, Michigan. On April 22, 2013 he was sent home with a broken hand and in severe
pain; but he was unable to tell me what happened. Upon requesting information from the school
in regards to the supervision present at the time of the incident and what technical surveillance
video could be reviewed, I was informed that the particular surveillance equipment in that area
was not working at the time. The staff member is still being investigated. While the behavior of
the school staff may not always be in the schools immediate control, the maintenance of their
surveillance equipment should be.
Without proper funding, this equipment and maintenance can become cost-prohibitive. It was
indicated to me that these issues were attributed to limited financial resources within the budget.
I am requesting additional funding for C.O.O.R. ISD, so that the status of this matter may be
rectified and to assist in the re-instatement of a safe educational environment. Additionally
surveillance equipment can be used as a protective modality for the school and a tool for policy
improvements and should be standard practice.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Veres, RN