Parent Questions School’s Actions Against 4-Year-Old

WILDWOOD ─ “We have been blackmailed,” said Chelsea Shelton as she described her recent experience with the Wildwood School District, namely Glenwood Elementary School. “Wildwood will be losing another student,” Shelton said, saying her preschool-age son will finish the year at Glenwood but will not return for kindergarten in the fall. 
Shelton alleges that certain rules, applicable to older students, should not apply to “babies” and that she and her husband, Ryan, were “blackmailed and forced” to take their son to see a mental health professional. “I know my rights,” Shelton said. “This week was for nothing.”
According to Shelton, her 4-year-old son was removed from school for a week’s time due to a comment made about a “bazooka” and “blowing it up.” The comment was made May 9, and Shelton was asked to meet with her son’s teacher and Glenwood principal, Crystal Pond, the following day, May 10. Shelton claims that the meeting was “cut short,” and had to be rescheduled.
She also met with the school counselor who, according to Shelton, said “this was not necessary.” In a subsequent meeting with the teacher and Pond, Shelton admits to becoming angry and is no longer allowed at Glenwood. “This became a personal fight,” Shelton said. Shelton also complained of not meeting with the superintendent, Kenyon Kummings, as she desired.  Shelton claims that the “principal made it a power-trip.”
After speaking with Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN), Shelton’s son was allowed to return to school May 18. Shelton says her son most likely made the comment because he watched a movie with Ryan which included weapons such as bazookas.
When asked what she hoped for as a result of making the matter public, Shelton said she is “hoping for them, as a public school, to look at the rules” and to make judgments on “a case by case basis.” Shelton says her family attends church and is involved in school functions. “My hands are tied,” Shelton said and alleges that “many families” are dissatisfied with Wildwood public schools. “There is no communication,” Shelton concluded. “We are a good family.”
The Herald reached out to Crystal Pond who said “we have a qualified and caring staff” at Glenwood. “Our students are our first priorities.” No further comment could be given on the Shelton case at this time.
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.