Complaint Investigation Report
Parent v. RSU #24  

August 30, 2013

Complaint #14.002C
Complaint Investigator: Jonathan Braff, Esq.

I.  Identifying Information

Complainant:   Parent	
		 Address
		 City, Zip

Respondent:    	 Suzanne Lukas, Superintendent
		 248 State St., #A
 Ellsworth, ME  04605

Special Services Director: Lynn Maddocks 	

Adult Student: Adult Student	
	     	 DOB: xx/xx/xxxx

II.	Summary of Complaint Investigation Activities 

The Department of Education received this complaint on July 22, 2013. The Complaint Investigator was appointed on July 23, 2013 and issued a draft allegations report on July 25, 2013. On August 12, 2013, the Department of Education received a request from the Respondent to dismiss the complaint. By letter dated August 19, 2013, the Commissioner dismissed two of the three allegations of the complaint. The Complaint Investigator conducted a complaint investigation meeting on August 23, 2013 (rescheduled from the original date of August 5, 2013 at the Respondent’s request), resulting in a stipulation.  On August 27, 2013, the Complaint Investigator received 2 pages of documents from R.S.U. #24 (the “District”). Interviews were conducted with the following: Lynn Maddocks, special services director for the District.

 III.	Preliminary Statement

The Adult Student is xx years old and is currently receiving special education under the eligibility criterion Autism. This complaint was filed by the Adult Student’s father, as an Interested Party, alleging violations of the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (MUSER), Chapter 101, as set forth below. 

IV.	Allegations

1.	Failure to award a high school diploma to the Adult Student despite the fact that he had met all diploma requirements in violation of 20-A M.R.S.A. §7202.5-A.

V.	Stipulations

1.	The Adult Student had met all the District’s requirements for graduation by the end of his xx year of high school in June 2013.

VI.	Summary of Findings

1.  The Adult Student lives in Gouldsboro with his mother, and has been attending Sumner Memorial High School.

2.  On June 13, 2013, the Adult Student was awarded a High School diploma.

VII.  Conclusions

Allegation #1: Failure to award a high school diploma to the Adult Student despite the fact that he had met all diploma requirements in violation of 20-A M.R.S.A. §7202.5-A
NO VIOLATION FOUND

This complaint was based upon the premise that the Adult Student, although fully eligible to receive a diploma upon the completion of his fourth year of high school in June 2013, did not receive one. The investigation revealed that the Adult Student had, in fact, received a diploma on June 13, 2013, along with the rest of his high school class. 

VIII. Corrective Action Plan

As no violations were found, none is required.