Mother of 5-year-old voted out of school last year tells police another mother threatened her
May 7th, 2009 by TCPalm.comPORT ST. LUCIE — The mother of the 5-year-old kindergarten student voted out of class last year told police she was threatened by another mother at the same school.
Melissa Barton said she went to the school Friday for a ceremony honoring her oldest son, according to a Port St. Lucie police report. Another woman approached her in the school cafeteria allegedly threatening to fight her in the parking lot.
Barton’s son, Alex, was ousted from his kindergarten class in a 14-to-2 vote led by his teacher Wendy Portillo. Portillo in November was suspended for one year and her tenure was taken away.
The other mother denied the allegations, the police report said. She told police she approached Barton and said, “I’m going to be real discreet about this. I just want you to know that I love my school and what you did was not fair to our school,” the police report said.
The school resource officer said she escorted Barton to the parking lot because of safety concerns and told her she would send a patrol car to monitor her home.
No arrests were made and the case was closed.
By staff report, TCPalm.com
Tags: alex barton, arrest, car, fight, mother, police, safety, Schools, students, teacher, teachers, vote, woman
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May 7th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I think that Barton woman just wants attention, she got her 15 minutes of fame and now wants more. I think what she did to that teacher was wrong also.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Looks like she wants more attention!
May 7th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I don’t think the teacher did anything wrong. If the child is disrupting the class over and over again, regardless of his special needs, the teacher did the correct thing. If you have a problem with a group all decisions/concerns should be taken to that group/classroom. I am sure the child can now do whatever he wants in the school because the school will try to avoid more publicity. Attention seeking Barton. GO AWAY! No one threatened you, she just told you they did not agree with you on how you handle the situation. Teachers have enought to deal with.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I don’t think the teacher should have done that to the little boy. It makes me mad and I’m not even his mother. I can’t imagine how hurt that boy was when his peers were voting him out of a class, even if he had acted a little wild that day. There are other ways to handle that situation. As for the latest, not sure what to think. It did seem a little far fetched, but you never know. People are crazy and when you’re pregnant you tend to be more sensitive. Anyway, who cares really?
May 7th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Attention seeker!
May 7th, 2009 at 9:17 am
I agree with Jess and I also think that no one should ever be singled out like that to be make to fell humiliated, picked on, alone.
IMHO, that teacher should have lost more than a year, more like the rest of her career.
I bet she was threatened, some woman are really rough red-neck types who think nothing of saying ” I will get you in the parking lot”.
Some people have NO empathy for others, and always see themselves as right and have NO consideration anything but everything that applies directly to their life and happiness. SELFISH.
I wish that other Mother had gotten that threat recorded.
May 7th, 2009 at 9:32 am
Is she lacking attention? Why bring it up at this late date? Who cares anymore? What was done to her son was wrong and is being taken care of. The teacher was most definitely wrong but why is this women bringing up this issue now?
May 7th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
This school is OK for her older son, but Alex was “supposedly” removed and being homeschooled. If she has so many “problems” at Morningside, why not remove her older son too? Does she not think that what she did is causing problems for her older son if it is causing problems for her?
Barton truly needs to get a life. Her 15 minutes of fame are up and she needs more attention to keep her lawsuit moving forward. Just more “fuel for that fire” against the school district.
May 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
It sure seems that some people don’t read all that is before them. Ms. Barton did the right thing reporting the comments to the proper authorities. This incident only happened last Friday, 5/01/09. With regard to the teacher, she had no business asking children of that age to “take a vote” on something they don’t understand. The teacher should have been working with the parent and the Special Education section of the school to get the child the help he needed.
May 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I think the entire story has been seen/heard enough! 1.All children have the right to learn in a peaceful setting; her child was constantly disrupting that & the other kids needed to know that they have a voice too 2.The teacher has been punished (even though taking her tenure was a bit harsh 3. Do you really REALLY believe that someone cares about her enough to threaten her or does she just want more sympathy, cards letters, gifts etc… like she recieved when the story first broke. 4.I agree with #8 all of my children would have been pulled from the school if I was so “upset”— Gimme a break already!
May 7th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I am absolutely shocked that there are people who think this little 5 year old boy should have been voted out of the class. This isn’t a reality T.V. show. The teacher is the dictator of the class, and the only adult available. It is her responsibility to control her class. I dont think 5 year old kids are mature enough to make such decisions.
May 9th, 2009 at 2:00 am
The worst mistake I made is moving from Palm Beach County to PSL in the late 80’s.Too many rude,unqualified teachers!!And too many poor New Yorkers with attitudes!!
May 10th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Several of the posters are correct, all children should have a peaceful place to learn. However if the only way the teacher can find to achieve this is by resorting to what she saw on tv, we need a new teacher. Behavior modification is a basic skill for a kindergarten teacher, if this is her skill level we are better off without her.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
What kind of white trash redneck would approach someone a YEAR after they were on the news? Has this stalker nothing better to do at a school program?? This is so PSL.