Wednesday, April 1, 1998 | 9:47 a.m.
A Clark County teacher repeatedly sprayed cold water in the face of a 7-year-old special education pupil after he didn't respond to instructions, the boy's mother told a committee of state legislators Tuesday.
The abuse may have continued for as long as a year, said Stephanie Richter, mother of Brandon Klapperick, now 10. Brandon may have been sprayed up to seven times in one day, Richter said.
"My question to you is, why is it OK for this school district to allow this to happen to a child with disabilities?" Richter tearfully asked the lawmakers.
Richter's testimony came during a work session of a commission of six legislators who are studying a complicated web of problems facing special education teachers in Clark County and the rest of the state. Much of the work sessions are focusing on disciplining special education students with behavior problems.
The public is invited to attend the work sessions, which continue from 4 to 9 p.m. today at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building, room 4401, 555 E. Washington Ave. The commission eventually will formulate recommendations for new special education laws to be considered next year.
Among other problems facing special education officials: teacher burnout, supply shortages, counselor shortages and a lack of special education training for teachers and other staff, including school police and bus drivers.
"We need more training for bus drivers," said Belinda Yealy, a 16-year driving veteran who routinely deals with special education students with bad behavior. "I had a student who was basically telling me he was going to do me bodily harm."
District officials at the meeting said they hoped lawmakers in the upcoming session would understand the need for more money for teacher training and supplies.
"We're having students with more and more complicated needs," said Scott Reynolds, a district administrator who deals with special education issues. "We're also dealing with a much bigger population."
Teachers also need more class-room preparation time and fewer students per teacher to be effective, said Lyal Burkholder Middle School special education teacher Heidi Slavin.
"I'd also like to see special education get money for textbooks and equipment," Slavin said.
After Richter testified about her son, legislators said they were deeply troubled and discussed finding out how common Richter's story might be.
The issue of "aversive discipline" has long been a contentious one in special education, said Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas, who is also a special education teacher in Clark County. But there is a clear line between abuse and strict discipline, several lawmakers said.
"I have some questions for the school district about that," Assemblyman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, said. "That turned my stomach."
Giunchigliani, commission chairwoman, said the lawmakers had a lot of special education issues to study before crafting recommendations for the Legislature.
"It's a huge issue with teachers, with parents, with administrators," Giunchigliani said. 'You cannot teach without discipline. We're trying to determine what can we do to make it work best."
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