School board sues parent for $600,000 after dispute over son’s special needs education plan
BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ/Gray News) - A legal battle is brewing between a Virginia school board and the parent of a student with special needs.
The Bedford County Public School Board is suing a parent for $600,000 because the parent, David Rife, has been verbally abusing and harassing school staff for three years with excessive communication, the lawsuit said.
The suit said Rife used profane language to threaten teachers and administration, with dates documenting when the alleged offenses happened.
The dispute stems from conversations about Rife’s son’s individualized education plan. The parent said the school is not following the plan.
Rife said he never made statements with malicious intent but was instead advocating for the school to follow his son’s education plan.
Rife said Staunton River High School does not provide direct reading instruction or accommodated notes for his son, among other items not followed in the plan. He filed a complaint, and the Virginia Department of Education found the district was in noncompliance with following certain aspects of the plan.
The complaint was filed at the end of January, and the lawsuit was filed at the end of March.
Rife’s attorney said the lawsuit looks like a retaliatory move by the school board.
“It at least raises the appearance that it could be retaliation,” said David Whitehurst, Rife’s attorney. “If they [the school district] had just provided the services they’re supposed to provide under law, he [Rife] wouldn’t have needed to contact [the Virginia Department of Education], there wouldn’t have been any issues with communication.”
The school board recently filed an emergency injunction, requesting the court to stop Rife from using harassing language against school staff. Rife’s attorney made a motion to dismiss that emergency injunction.
Rife and his attorney have also filed a counter lawsuit, demanding the school implement his son’s education plan.
Bedford County Public Schools said they are unable to comment on the matter.
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