Essentially, only the organizations created by the Governor’s circle were permitted official status, leaving
the organic special education parents without an “official” voice. Police have been called on parents and
members of the community even when they are meeting in recognized groups. Says one complainant:
“I am the chair of a volunteer …organization (for over 40 years). The EM’s have
contracted with the Parent Network (DPN) for millions of dollars who are used to represent
the pa rents at parent meetings, educational events and speaking engagements. Most of these
parents do not have children in DPS, but they are used to represent parents and the true
parents are not recognized and have no meaningful involvement in their children’s
education. Our coalition …has been deliberately pushed aside….”
Despite the setback, the parent continued firing off letters to elected officials on the topics important to
disabled parents, and elected officials received similar letters from other parents who were learning about
special education rights and how to advocate for their children.
Because of the office held, the parent was provided a mid-sized office with a desk, table, computer and
chairs. One day the parent was informed the office had been moved to the back of the building. When they
entered, they found a dirty office with no file cabinet or computer.
If there was any suspicion previously that being outspoken under emergency management was not
appreciated, not there was certainty. Still, as the representative of many parents, with the responsibility to
teach disabled parent advocacy as had always been done, the parent now sent a laundry list of questions
about Roberts, the EAA and Detroit Parent Network to Congressman Hansen Clarke’s office beginning
with:
1. Why does Roy Roberts, Emergency Manager, his administration (all of them: EAS,
Charter, Detroit Parent Network) continue to silence the parents of disabled children and
young adults?70
(Although, Detroit Parent Network is the recipient of Title I Funding for the city from the Federal
Government, it should be noted that we consider John Covington and Sharlonda Buckman as Responsible
Management Officials. She is a member of the Coalition which whose goal was to decrease enrollment
numbers of DPS. And beyond that, it is a commonly known rumor with witnesses that participants may be
paid or stand ins, that information provided to the Federal Government is being fabricated. Whether or not,
Sharlonda Buckman began her journey with DPN honestly, we don’t know, but as Ms. Harris expressed in
2012, the Federal Government should be aware that thousands of actual parents do not have confidence in
the artificial turf of DPN which exists now. If there is no confidence, it is difficult for her to serve the
purpose of the Title I funding. If Sharlonda Buckman is getting more out of this than a payday, she needs to
demonstrate that quickly. In the meantime, State Representative Burt Johnson also alerted the Federal
Government about Sharlonda Buckman. There are rumors that she threatened him. Researchers were not
able to verify from either Sharlonda Buckman or the State Representative what, if anything happened. That
is because, while some of us have seen the letter sent to the Federal Government which Johnson circulated,
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