Mother tells Addison SD 4 board her son’s forced transfer is ‘cruel and without purpose’

At the May 22 board meeting of Addison School District 4, parent Valerie Rathbun urged the board to reverse a planned transfer of her son Nolan, saying the move lacks a policy basis and has caused him emotional distress.

Rathbun said Nolan, a third grader at Stone School, has diagnosed ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder, an Individualized Education Program and a 504 plan. "This forced transfer is cruel and without purpose," she said, adding that moving him now would "cause him undue emotional trauma and has already triggered his anxiety as the school year is coming to an end."

Rathbun told the board she believes Nolan's transfer was processed as a Section 7-30 transfer, which she said is permanent, rather than a Section 6-32 exception. She said the family received a written agreement and submitted transfer paperwork during registration and argued the district's subsequent actions break that commitment. "Once again, Nolan should not be forced to transfer to Wesley," she said.

Rathbun said the family has used the district grievance process and e-mailed board members with no resolution and that she is prepared to file FOIA requests or take further steps if necessary. She asked the board to "do the ethical and the moral thing and honor the district's commitments for just the next two years before Nolan moves on to Indian Trail."

Superintendent Doctor Sutton summarized other public input received on comment cards, including a separate request to limit district text messages to business hours.

The board did not announce an immediate action reversing the transfer during the meeting. Rathbun urged the board to prioritize the child's needs and suggested the board's strategic plan language on belonging and culture be applied in her son's case. The board's next regular meeting was announced for June 26, when members could discuss follow-up steps or requests from the family.