Fighting

The Baughs are fighters.   We don't let people walk on us, we are not content with the status quo, we don't accept our fate.  If you know us, you know that.  It can make life difficult sometimes, but it's just who we are.

I remember my mom going to the principal's office to dispute some rule or decision when I was in junior high.  I can't remember the problem or the outcome, but I have a vivid image in my mind of my mom storming into his office and making sure her opinion was known.

My dad fights for what he thinks is right everyday in his position as a Shasta County Supervisor.  He was even featured in a PBS program about stopping hate crimes in his area.

My brother has had countless fights with his employer & his union.  My sister, very recently, fought with her childrens' school over homework policies.

If you've read my blog for a while, you know of my fight with Borders, you know I write letters to politicians telling them why I won't vote for them.  I have issues with Starbucks, junk mail, plastic bags and waste.  I sometimes feel like I am always fighting.

Recently my fight is with South Sutter; the charter school I have been so enamored with for the past two years.

About a week and a half ago, I was informed by our E.S. that the golf clubs we purchased with school funding (from an approved vendor) in August were going to be confiscated by the school.  The reason given was that they never should have been purchased for the girls' use.  Someone in the South Sutter office made a mistake that wasn't caught for 6 months.  To remedy the mistake, the clubs must be returned and put in a closet to ensure no child might use them.

I made phone calls and wrote emails, but was unable to change anyone's mind before they were taken last Friday.  It was either give them up, or have all our school funding frozen.  After surrendering the clubs, I was informed that the portion of the girls' funding used to purchase the clubs would not be returned to them.  I've asked repeatedly, but no one will give me a reason for that.

On Tuesday, my E.S. called to tell me that I had been accused by the school's office of stealing the clubs I had returned.  They are insisting that both Lydia & Rowan had sets with 5 clubs each and a bag.  In reality, Lydia had 5 clubs and a bag, and Rowan had 3 clubs with a bag.  Apparently, they don't keep receipts.  They have  refused to answer my emails about their accusation or issue me a receipt for the clubs.

So far, I've sent about 20 emails and received only one response.  The one response promised to forward my email to someone who would address my concerns.  They haven't.

I've contacted South Sutter, the corporation that owns South Sutter and the district that licenses South Sutter. My next step is to make phone calls and attend the next school council meeting.  I will contact all these people again as well as every person on this chart who is in any way involved with education.

My children and I followed all the proper procedures for obtaining the golf clubs.  We used an approved vendor who only sells golf equipment.  The school approved our request, submitted payment and delivered the clubs to us.  Six months later, they decided we couldn't use our funding for golf clubs and took them back.  They refuse to accept responsibility and return the funding.  They've accused me of theft.  They've ignored all my emails.  That's not a fight I can back down from.

Unless policies are changed and I receive some concrete answers, there is  no way I will be able to trust South Sutter to  be involved with the education of my children.  I now believe that anything provided with school funding might be suddenly taken away.  Classes may be cancelled, books may burned, science kits or instruments may be confiscated.  What really matters to South Sutter and IEM is the bottom line.