PEACHAM - Parents and former parents of Peacham School students are criticizing the school's administration. They claim that the school is not properly handling complaints brought to them.

One parent told News 7 that she and other parents are upset with the way Superintendent Martha Tucker handled an accusation involving a student and a staff member in an incident that allegedly occurred last January.  The accusation was brought to Superintendent Tucker's attention in March.

Superintendent Tucker said that her office and other agencies looked into the situation, and she closed her case in May. She said, "There was nothing found that warranted further action."

Parents are also upset because they feel that they are not allowed to voice their opinions and concerns during public input.

Langham claims that the board has been dragging out meetings in order to avoid their public input. She and other parents were upset when they were told that though public input was higher up on the agenda for the evening, that it would be pushed back until the end.

Chair of the Peacham School Board, Jo Anne Post explained that public input had always come at the end in previous meetings and that a mistake was made in the creation of the November 14th agenda.

Despite the change in order, parents still stuck around to have their voices heard.

Former Peacham School parent Wendy Langham, who chose to home school her daughter, went to the November 14th school board meeting to speak about a letter the school sent her when she pulled her daughter out. The letter advised her to come pick up her daughter's binder or it would be shredded on a given date. The binder contained pictures her daughter drew, her work, and other things that parents come to treasure.

Another parent came to speak about a concern she had when the school called her child's father rather than her regarding the child.  She continued to speak over the board and stormed out.

Chairwoman Post explained to the group that for privacy reasons individual parents, students, and teachers could not be discussed in open forums. She suggested that parents first follow the "chain of command".

"A person would initially bring their complaint or issue to the person that they have the issue with. If they feel dissatisfied with the response that they get they proceed up to either the principal or superintendent depending on whom the issue is with. If they're still dissatisfied with the response they get they come to the school board."

If the situation needs to be discussed with the school board, the involved parties would have a special Executive Session with the board.

Parents like Langham, who have brought complaints to the school, said they have written letters, and have gotten "rejection letters" in return. They brought both their letters and the "rejection letters" with them to the meeting.

Langham explained her frustration with the situation.

"It's been this way for over a year now. We've been so squelched and so repressed. It's just getting to the point where a lot of people have been affected, a lot of people have been bullied, a lot of people have been pushed down, and we're starting to rise up." Langham said.

The Peacham School Board's next meeting will be held on December 12th.