Systemic Failure
My respect once again to Bowen Levy's parents who, throughout the nine months they've grieved for their son, have also relentlessly pressed Anne Arundel County Public Schools for answers about his death.I wonder if district spokesman Bob Mosier knew, when he stated on AACPS's behalf last November that "Bowen was being supervised at the time of the accident," that 'supervision' in this case meant one adult substitute (who acknowledged they didn't read the sub plan) and two unqualified high school student volunteers, placed in charge of a classroom of seven severely disabled students.It's hard to believe the district leaders Mosier speaks for genuinely think that meets the definition of supervision. Does Bob – a popular figure when snow days might be in the offing – want to take a hot, cleansing shower after making a statement like that?Whether or not Moshier knew the truth then, he certainly knows now, as the Levys have made public the results of the Department of Social Services (DSS) investigation into Bowen's death. The report bluntly stated, "It is the assessment of the investigator/worker that Bowen Levy died as a result of the systemic failure at Central Special School." Per district protocol, the DSS findings should then act as a springboard for AACPS's own investigation. For those tempted to say 'but, pandemic' to explain AACPS's ongoing failure to provide answers about Bowen's death, here's the problem with that:
Bowen choked at Central Special on November 5 and died on November 10.
DSS released its findings in January.
Lack of time isn't the problem. Lack of courage or lack of morals are much more likely culprits. The decisions made at Central Special on November 5 were inexcusable. But the bigger problem – lack of resources and lack of appropriate staff – is a district-level issue, and it's neither new nor uncommon. Those at the highest levels of administration just couldn't be bothered to address it.As they say, a fish rots from the head. The jobs at Central Special should not be the only ones on the line; the system leaders also must answer for their decisions. And let's not forget the Board of Education, whose members have also failed to hold anyone accountable.