Parent tells Camas board her child was injured after placement change; asks for accountability

During public comment, Liberty Diaz said her child — a student receiving special education services — was moved into a new placement after the district closed the program the child previously attended. Diaz said promised transition supports did not materialize, that district responses focused on removing the child and documenting escalating behaviors rather than increasing supports, and that her child returned from school with unexplained injuries prompting a police report.

“Once we were identifying bruises in different stages of healing, this stopped being a routine special education concern and became a serious safety issue,” Diaz said in the written remarks the board entered into the record. She told the board the child’s mental-health providers advised that the child not return to the same environment and asked the board to ensure safety before any return.

The chair acknowledged the comment and the superintendent and board members did not take immediate public action during the meeting; the record shows the statement was entered into public comment and will be part of the record for any follow-up scrutiny or staff response.

What happens next: The comment requests board-level accountability and proactive supports. The district may follow up privately under personnel and student-safety procedures; the public comment directed the board to consider systemic improvements to special-education transitions and family communication.