School district, parents clash over special education plan for student

District wants student to attend specialized school; parents want individual classroom

The parents of an Arlington School District student who qualifies for services as a child with disabilities is asking a federal judge to reverse the decision of a hearing officer who dismissed their complaint against the district.

Les and Anna Bothe filed suit against the district on behalf of their minor child who is identified as E.B. The child qualifies for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. That act requires schools to establish specialized education plans for students with disabilities.

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The Arlington School District doesn’t deny that E.B. qualifies under the act. But the district and Bothes do dispute how services should be rendered to E.B.

The Bothes filed a complaint in October with the South Dakota Department of Education’s Special Education Program. A hearing officer for the department held a hearing on Dec. 7 and later dismissed the Bothes’ complaint against the district.