Schools in Georgia

In 1998 I moved Steph and Rachel to Georgia. You never know where life will take you from one day to the next. Mathew 7:7 " Keep on asking and it will be given you, Keep on seeking and you will find: Keep on knocking and the door will be opened." I had just ended my second marriage in 1997 and became a manager for a restaurant in Oak Creek when I met the most wonderful man through the internet. I wasn't looking to be in another relationship but with our chance meeting in Chicago, one thing led to another. We were all ready friends thanks to e-mails and phone calls and as time went on we discussed my moving to Atlanta. The job market made the move affordable. I was relying on David to check out the schools in the area we had selected but he was not familiar with the needs of a handicapped child.
Steph was entering middle school and so that means she had two transitions. New home and new school.
Where as I had the culture shock of going from a state that had the resources, to one that seemed to be meager and lacking. Steph started right off by escaping out the doors in the classrooms daily. She did this on a regular basis. Until one day she had escaped out the school doors and they had to get the principal involved. I got a phone call asking me to come to school and help return Steph to the classroom.
I wish I had taken a camera. Picture this: A tall distinguished black principal chasing a handicapped child around a fenced in area. I had to compose myself and step in. Steph was suspended from school, I can't recall for how long but it was probably three days. Needless to say they felt they had to place the blame on our home life.
So I did what any good parent would do and requested the school bring in a social behavior specialist. This took about three weeks to find one in the area. Once she arrived she studied Steph in the classroom and at home. We were then called in for an IEP meeting on the findings.
Principal, teachers and aides were invited to join. The results ...you guessed it!
To much down time in the classroom, and a well adjusted home life!
So they had to meet and come up with a whole new plan for Steph. They had to give her rewards for staying in her seat and not running out the doors. Her rewards were ketchup packets and mayo at lunch. Don't laugh. These were her favorite things at the time. This worked for awhile and slowly things started to go back. She started to escape again but now she would head for the gym or cafeteria.
Meanwhile we decided to build a house outside of the school district and after several visits to surrounding areas we decided. The house was finished just before school started and Steph entered a new middle school.
Lets just leave things as they are for now and continue this saga tomorrow.
Houdini revisited???