Depositions Related to the Death of 7 Year Old Isabella Herrera
Isabella died on January 26, 2012, a day after choking on a Hillsborough County School bus. Bella, a 7 year old student at Sessums Elementary, drove her power wheelchair onto her Hillsborough County School bus at 2:07 pm. Once on the bus, Isabella, who had a neuromuscular disorder, relied on an aide who was supposed to be trained to position her wheelchair with her head tilted back to allow her to breathe. "They were supposed to be trained by physical therapists at the school to slightly tilt her chair so her head would not bobble," says Isabella's mother, Lisa Herrera.
Hillsborough County Public School Transportation Manager Resigns
John Franklin, the general manager of Hillsborough County's transportation department resigned April 22, 2014. Franklin became manager in 2007 and helped Hillsborough County Public School (HCPS) save millions of dollars by reorganizing the transportation department. HCPS employees have been speaking out about safety issues, low morale, directives not to document safety concerns and unfair treatment by the administration. John Franklin's deposition in the lawsuit brought by the family of 7 year old Isabella Hererra can be read here. Isabella died on January 26, 2012, a day after choking on a Hillsborough County School bus. Bella, a 7 year old student
Karen Clay Defines Inclusion for Hillsborough County School Board Member Olson
"I fought for him to remain in the classroom, I fought for him to attend his neighborhood school. I did not have to fight for him to be fully included, because Principal Vince Sussman at Plant High School knew that students with disabilities have value, have worth."
After student’s death, Hillsborough school’s ESE aides could not recall missing-child training
Hillsborough County school district investigates a student's death last month at Rodgers Middle School, issues are emerging that go beyond the five suspended special education employees and even their Riverview school. It is unclear if the workers, who earn as little as $11,000 a year and are now on paid leave, were trained in how to react when a student goes missing. Read more from Tampa Bay Times, Marlene Sokol
School board wants answers in wake of student’s death
Two separate investigations are now going on in the Hillsborough School District.
