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THSC Association Follow-up Letter

to Canyon ISD

September 18, 2006

Ms. Lesli Laughter

Assistant Superintendent

Canyon Independent School District

508 16^th Street

Canyon, Texas  79105

Dear Ms. Laughter:

I am in receipt of your letter dated September 15, 2006, written in response to my letter of September 7 to Ms. Angie Latta.  Thank you for your phone call on September 14 and your assurance that no one from Canyon ISD was authorized to make the visit to Ms. A______ H___’s home that occurred on September 6. 

THSC staff contacted Canyon ISD on September 7 and asked to speak to someone in the attendance office.  Ms. Latta took the call, and our staff told her about the visit Ms. H___ received from two women concerning her teaching her child at home.  Ms. Latta responded that no one from her office had gone on any home visits, that she was in charge of that, and that the district does not send anyone after being told by parents that they are homeschooling.  She also said no one else would have gone to Ms. H___’s home. 

Ms. H___ had received a visit by two women who represented themselves as “there to check her curriculum, since the children had been withdrawn from school” and threatened her with contacting CPS when she asked for their request in writing.  Based on the assertion by Ms. Latta that she was in charge of this area for Canyon ISD, I addressed my concerns to her.  I accept your assurance that no one from Canyon ISD made that visit.  However, as a result of our phone conversation, I know you agree with me that it is very strange that two women would appear between 3:30 and 4 p.m. and make such comments and threats.  There is also no plausible reason for Ms. H___ to make false statements about such a visit.  We have advised her to require identification of any such person who appears at her home in the future before she has any conversation at all.

Thank you again for your phone call and the investigation that you launched into this matter and for your offer to clarify any related matters in the future.

Sincerely,

Tim Lambert

cc:  Ms. A______ H___; Mr. Kirk Kear, Principal, Canyon Jr. High; Mr. Paul Kimbrough, Principal, Canyon Intermediate; Mr. Mike Wartes, Superintendent, Canyon ISD; Dr. Shirley J. Neeley, Commissioner of Education; Robert Scott, Chief Deputy Commissioner of Education; Mr. Carey Cockerell, Commissioner DFPS; Ms. Joyce James, Assistant Commissioner, CPS; State Senator Kel Seliger; State Representative John Smithee; SBOE Member Mr. Bob Craig; Texas home schoolers

none

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