Kindergartner's peanut allergy infuriates some school parents
The Associated Press
Last Updated 3:38 a.m. PDT Tuesday, September 9, 2003
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) - Controversy simmered Monday night at a parent-teacher meeting that didn't involve test scores, dog-eared study books or even the Pledge of Allegiance. It was all about peanut butter and one student's serious allergic reaction to it.
Valle Verde Elementary School has put in motion a "peanut reduction policy" to accommodate the needs of Leora Cope's 5-year-old son. So serious is his allergy to peanut products that a mere smudge of peanut butter left on the monkey bars for him to touch could send him into anaphylactic shock or possibly trigger a deadly reaction.
But some parents are miffed about the ban and say the boy should be home schooled instead of creating widespread changes that affect all the other students. Upset parents have even begun to circulate an online petition through the PTA membership.
"There have to be reasonable accommodations," said parent Amy Casey, who started the protest petition. "(But) they're searching my kid's backpack. There's no reading specialist, but (they hired) a 30-hour a week aide who's a nurse?"
Another parent, Carol Gross, suggests Valle Verde may not be the place for the boy, considering his condition.
"If their child has such severe allergies, I suggest that they home school their child," Gross said. "I would like to know what this family does out in the world. They expect over 600 families to conform to their unfortunate situation."
Children have begun to complain that their lunch bags were being searched for peanut goods, parents said.
The Cope family went to the school district and insisted on accommodations for their son under the American Disabilities Act. They originally wanted the entire school designated a peanut-free zone.
Instead, a compromise was struck. Kindergarten classrooms and a special playground area at Valle Verde would be peanut- and tree nut-free and vigorous hand-washing by students and visitors would be emphasized and monitored.
Also, peanut products would be discouraged throughout the campus at Valle Verde.
School district spokeswoman Sue Berg says officials are doing everything they can to keep the Cope child safe. The boy's mother insists banning the lunch bag staple of peanut butter is part of the solution.
"This is an intensive peanut and tree nut environment," Cope said. "You don't have 90 peanut butter sandwich-toting kids (in everyday situations). If this was high school, you wouldn't be having this discussion."
Indeed, it's tough hiding from peanut butter in the Mount Diablo Unified School District. Under the "What's for lunch?" link on the district's Web site for Monday's menu, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chicken quesadillas shared top billing.
The Associated Press
Last Updated 3:38 a.m. PDT Tuesday, September 9, 2003
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (AP) - Controversy simmered Monday night at a parent-teacher meeting that didn't involve test scores, dog-eared study books or even the Pledge of Allegiance. It was all about peanut butter and one student's serious allergic reaction to it.
Valle Verde Elementary School has put in motion a "peanut reduction policy" to accommodate the needs of Leora Cope's 5-year-old son. So serious is his allergy to peanut products that a mere smudge of peanut butter left on the monkey bars for him to touch could send him into anaphylactic shock or possibly trigger a deadly reaction.
But some parents are miffed about the ban and say the boy should be home schooled instead of creating widespread changes that affect all the other students. Upset parents have even begun to circulate an online petition through the PTA membership.
"There have to be reasonable accommodations," said parent Amy Casey, who started the protest petition. "(But) they're searching my kid's backpack. There's no reading specialist, but (they hired) a 30-hour a week aide who's a nurse?"
Another parent, Carol Gross, suggests Valle Verde may not be the place for the boy, considering his condition.
"If their child has such severe allergies, I suggest that they home school their child," Gross said. "I would like to know what this family does out in the world. They expect over 600 families to conform to their unfortunate situation."
Children have begun to complain that their lunch bags were being searched for peanut goods, parents said.
The Cope family went to the school district and insisted on accommodations for their son under the American Disabilities Act. They originally wanted the entire school designated a peanut-free zone.
Instead, a compromise was struck. Kindergarten classrooms and a special playground area at Valle Verde would be peanut- and tree nut-free and vigorous hand-washing by students and visitors would be emphasized and monitored.
Also, peanut products would be discouraged throughout the campus at Valle Verde.
School district spokeswoman Sue Berg says officials are doing everything they can to keep the Cope child safe. The boy's mother insists banning the lunch bag staple of peanut butter is part of the solution.
"This is an intensive peanut and tree nut environment," Cope said. "You don't have 90 peanut butter sandwich-toting kids (in everyday situations). If this was high school, you wouldn't be having this discussion."
Indeed, it's tough hiding from peanut butter in the Mount Diablo Unified School District. Under the "What's for lunch?" link on the district's Web site for Monday's menu, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chicken quesadillas shared top billing.
