I would give zero stars…read more
As a parent, I am deeply disappointed in how this school has mishandled my son's IEP, we've been with LBCS since kindergarten and now in 8th grade. Despite his documented needs, the school has consistently failed to provide the legally required supports and services. Instead of fostering a safe and encouraging learning environment, the administration has been dismissive, unresponsive, and even retaliatory when I've tried to advocate for him.
My family has been part of this school community since kindergarten. In the early years, things were better, but after COVID the quality of support noticeably declined. Since Mrs. Newton came on board as principal (I'm sorry a director is her title), it has only gotten worse. Her leadership has not improved the school environment, in fact, it has created even more hostility, anxiety, and lack of accountability for students with special needs.
The most damaging moment came when the principal told my child directly that "LBCS is not a good fit for you." No student should ever be made to feel unwanted or out of place by the very leader of their school. This comment crushed my son's motivation and made him feel like there was no point in trying, because, after all, if he doesn't try, they will still push him on to the next grade without giving him the support he truly needs.
The principal, Mrs. Newton, in particular has contributed to a hostile environment. While she may have years of administrative experience, her actions in our case have shown a lack of compassion and leadership. She has been dismissive of my concerns, retaliatory in her behavior toward me and my son, and resistant to collaboration. Rather than guiding staff to support students with disabilities, she has created an atmosphere of intimidation that has only increased my son's anxiety and harmed his ability to learn. Due to this conduct, a formal complaint has been filed on Mrs. Newton for her behavior.
These failures are not only damaging to my child's education and emotional well-being, but they are also violations of special education law, including:
* IDEA (20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)) - requiring schools to implement IEPs with fidelity.
* California Education Code § 56000 et seq. - ensuring students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
* 34 C.F.R. § 300.323(c)(2) - requiring schools to provide services in accordance with each child's IEP.
* 34 C.F.R. § 300.324(b)(1)(ii) - requiring IEP teams to revise a plan if a child is not making expected progress.
My son has experienced unnecessary anxiety, regression in his learning, and inconsistent communication from staff. Even the basic expectations for IEP compliance have been ignored, leaving both him and me feeling unsupported and unheard. What should have been a collaborative process has turned into a hostile environment where parent input is minimized instead of respected.
I also know I am not the only parent who feels this way about the principal. Other families have expressed similar concerns, but many stay quiet out of fear of retaliation. I encourage parents to stand up and speak on behalf of their children, our kids deserve better than this.
Parents of children with IEPs deserve transparency, accountability, and compassion from their schools. Unfortunately, that has not been our experience here. I strongly caution families to be aware of these issues when considering this school. For as long as Mrs. Newton is the "director" of LBCS stay away. She is nothing but cancer and the district attorney will not support you unless you have an attorney. There are plenty of other schools with much better IEP services than LBCS.
