Child fights school policy

[rosy3939]

In today Bergen Record there is a featured article on young Keira who along with her parents are fingting the East Rutherford Board Of Education to allow her to keep her earring in during gym. Young Kiera along with her parents were with us at Capital Hill day last April and her picture adorns the cover of the Advance for the months of June & July.

This is an on going fight which her mother was explaining to us in Washington. If she remove her precious earrings she probably never be able to have her ears pierced again.

Athough she has the support of her parents, doctor, NPF and many others the Board Of Ed refuses to allow her to participate in gym making her sit on the stage with all the kids who weren't prepared. Her parents have offered to sign a waiver relieving the board of any possible liability but they refuse. S

Young Kiera is a brave young lady. She tackled head on fellow students who teased her by confronting them with information in a report to her classmates. This is the same report she read to Senator Lautenberg and Corzine and represenative Rothman.

I hope in the in she will prevail. We sufferers especially our youngest member have enough to deal with why this?

I will post the web site as soon as they upload in. For now it is Tuesday Jan. 4, 2005 Bergen Record.

Mitch

[luvwinnie]

Thanks, Mitch. I'll pick up the paper later.

[bella247]

THE POOR SWEETHEART!!!! AH DARLING KIERA....I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING THIS YOUNG LADY, AND SHE BOUGHT ME TO TEARS WITH HER CONFIDENCE AND MATURITY. I REMEMBER TALKING TO HER PARENTS ABOUT THIS AND AM SADDENED THAT THIS MATTER IS STILL NOT RESOLVED.

this is case in point why we need to push ourselves to make a difference for the community.

I really hope the best for her and her family...

bells

[Raynard_the_Fox]

Inst she like 8. What does it matter I dont remeber having to change at all for gym then. I know why there doing but at her age and I doubt they are doing any contact sports it is just stupid. This is what we get from sue happy society. :(

they should just let it be for now.

-David

[rosy3939]

HEALTH
Finding a way to fit in

Tuesday, January 4, 2005

By ZINNIA FARUQUE
HERALD NEWS


EAST RUTHERFOD - Eight-year-old Keira Romanello never takes off her earrings, a pair of barely visible 14-karat gold studs. But Keira's attachment to her jewelry is not a simple case of vanity.

Keira has psoriasis, a chronic skin disease that produces skin cells at an abnormally rapid rate. Since the body cannot shed these extra cells fast enough, the psoriasis often produces lesions, or patches of raised red skin covered by flaky, silvery-white buildup called scales or plaque.

These lesions can appear on the knees, hands, feet, lower back and ears. After extensive treatment, Keira's lesions have visibly lessened since she was diagnosed four years ago. Even so, she still feels self-conscious and she wears earrings to make her feel better about her disorder.

But McKenzie Elementary School has ruled that Keira is not allowed to wear earrings during gym, citing insurance liability issues.

"It's our policy that you can't wear jewelry. It's recommended by the state Health Board, our attorney and insurance carrier," said Michael Homaychak, school board president. "If we make an exception on that, there's potentially some risk there. Unfortunately, the jewelry is totally cosmetic."

However, Keira's doctor said that if she takes the earrings off during gym, she will most likely never be able to get her ears pierced again.

"Chances are the holes are going to fill in with psoriasis," said Dr. Manuel R. Mormon, a dermatologist in Rutherford. "To me, it's discrimination."

Even if Keira does get her ears pierced again, the psoriasis will probably develop to a worsened state, he said.

Keira's mother, Irena Romanello, president of the school's Parent Teacher Association, said she has done everything she could to sway the school to bend its policy, including getting a doctor's note and a letter from the National Foundation of Psoriasis on her daughter's behalf.

But the school will not budge.

"The whole board sympathizes with her," Homaychak said. "But even if we had her sign a waiver, it wouldn't waive us from our responsibility if, God forbid, something were to happen."

When Keira refused to take off her earrings last year, she was forced to sit on the stage, along with children who were punished for coming unprepared to gym.

"It made her feel like an outcast," Irena Romanello said.

This year, the board agreed to allow Keira to help in the library as an alternative during gym period, but Irena Romanello says that this is not enough.

"Even though she is going to the library, gym is still important to her," she said.

Sitting in her bedroom Wednesday afternoon, Keira remembers when she first noticed a dime-sized rash on her elbow. "I asked, 'What's this on my arm? Can you get it off of me?'" she said.

Keira cheerfully described the series of treatments she had to undergo in order to battle the psoriasis. Now you can barely tell that her body was once covered with lesions.

But Keira remembers a time when her psoriasis was much worse, which did not go unnoticed by her classmates.

"I was teased," said Keira, her face suddenly glum. "I was wearing short sleeves."

Following her mother's advice, Keira presented a report on psoriasis to her class.

"I wasn't teased again after that," said Keira.

Keira presented the same report to legislators in Washington, D.C., in April. She was the youngest advocate at the National Psoriasis Foundation's Capitol Hill Day, to raise awareness about the disease and lobby for research money.

"It really makes people understand that it affects all age groups," said Jennifer Lind, editor at the foundation. "It was very effective and powerful."

Keira and her family plan to attend the foundation's next Capitol Hill Day in April 2005.

Reach Zinnia Faruque |at (973) 569-7135 |or faruque@northjersey.com.















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[RichJ]

thank you mitch for sharing this. schools can be so stupid. i hope she win's

[Allie]

Are her parents active members on this board? If so, can you PM me the screen name?

As an active member in sports during my HS years, and having suffered the same issues w/p. I have a couple of ideas for her parents, by giving them my work around's I used.

It is so wonderful to read all the support on posts like this one.....

[Flannel]

It is accepted here in Ca. that when you play sports you take out the earrings. FINE. However, it is also widely approved by schools and leagues that if you can not take them out for whatever reason, that the earrings can be covered with tape during the activity. I wonder what their policy is on that. While my heart goes out to Keira, my daughter had P all through school and she took her earrings in and out without a problem. They aren't really out of the ear for that long. Does Keira only wear one pair. Doesn't she ever change them? Aren't they taken out to be cleaned? I am surprised it is such an issue. I am NOT taking the school board's side. Just curious what I am missing in this and I know these have to be some of the questions the board members are asking. I had P all through school and we had to shower. Needless to say I flunked gym most of the semesters because I refused to undress. Missed 63 days one year (wouldn't go to gym on gym days) but with the straight A's I had otherwise, they couldn't do much. I hated school back then and most of it was because of P. It is sad to see that we still haven't progressed much through the years. Back then Drs. and parents felt it made you stronger to face such adversity. I am glad Keira's parents are standing up for her!

[grannyfranny]

This is ridiculous. No wonder the children are such a mess today. She needs to learn to follow school rules.
She can take the ear rings out for the class and put them right back in---she will not have to have her ears pierced again. For the length of the class the p will not cover the holes.

[MikeK]

Keira is a very special young lady. I had the pleasure of meeting her (and her equally amazing parents Irena and Charles) during last year's Capital Hill Day. Her doctors (including Alice Gottlieb) support her decision not to remove the earrings, because of the Koebner effect. I'm saddened to hear that the issue is still at a stalemate. :mad:

Are her parents active members on this board?Irena told me that she reads the board from time to time, but that she has never posted here.

Mike

[Allie]

as I had p in my ear ring holes as a child. My Uncle, who is also a Dr., used to pull my earrings out, pop balls of hardend crap out of those tiny little holes. Yes, my holes would close in a short amount of time due to how inflamed the hole was to begin with. Did the outside close perm? No, but it did hurt like he** when he would push the earring through. My holes would bleed, and be very painful. I learned keeping my high powered steroid on them until they healed, then using only gold earrings I could go forward with zero ear ring hole issues. This took several years before we understood what was causing my ear ring hole issue.

I agree, the tape thing should work. The Michigan High School Athletic Assoc. has the same rule, "if earrnings cannot be removed, they must be taped to prevent ripping".

For those of you who are so adament she should just follow the rules, I would like to ask.... When did you develop p? Having had it as a teen, I know how much it made me abnormal. If letting her wear her earrings provides her with the confidence she needs to be happy, why is that so wrong? Especially since her Dr. agrees!!

Please have some compassion for someone who will be fighting this fight longer than most of us on here.....

[bella247]

i am with allie on this. I have had it since i was a child. and P is good for taking the little things away from us....and i am glad that they are still fighting that.

[MikeK]

Bella and Allie took the words right out of my keyboard! I was diagnosed with p when I was 7. It's very difficult growing up and being "different". I'm glad that Irena and Charles are still fighting what clearly is a case of discrimination!

Mike

[JodyGK]

Absolutely, Bella and Allie. I didn't have to deal with P as a child or teen, but remembering how difficult those years were with ANY difference, I can only imagine the stigma P causes. I fully support Keira and her parents in this battle.

On another note, I'm a little saddened by the news article. The description of P is woefully incomplete as to how complete the coverage can be and of the different types. The public needs to know how all-encompassing the disease can be beyond plaque P.

I'm looking forward to meeting this courageous young lady and her supportive parents at CHD.

Jody

[Flannel]

Allie, thanks for telling me about your ear P and how it worked. I did not mean to say Keira was wrong just that I didn't understand. Like I said b4 my daughter had on her ear lobes and it never affected the earrings. Everyone is certainly different in how the P affects their bodies. I was such a coward and didn't want P on my ears that I refused to get them pierced. I can't imagine why the tape thing wouldn't be a compromise. In any case, I reiterate I am glad Keira's parents and Drs. are standing up to fight for her. I was always told to grin and bear it. I NEVER told my daughter that. She had P since she was 7 and I have had it since I was about 9. Been there done that and it is no fun. Need the support and love of those that understand.

[rosy3939]

I agree with what was said above. I thing missing with the article was the two picture that were printed with the article. One showed how small and unobtrusive the earring was and the second showed her mother lovely cleaning the studs and post without removal.

Schools should be in the business of helping students build as mush self-esteem as they can. They should not be in the bussiness of tearing them down but building them up. Kaira parents offered to tape over the earring that wasn't good enough. They offer to sign a hold harless statement and that wasn't good enough. I hope they continue the fight.

By the way for those who may be interested;

East Rutherford Board of Enducation
Ms. Gayle Strass - Superintendant
201-804-3103
Ms Kathryn Davenport - Business Administration
201-804-3100

address:
Uhland & Grove Sts
E. Rutherford, NJ 07073

[Flannel]

Having been to many school board meetings over the years,it would appear that the members have their ears and eyes closed. I found that happens when they do not wish to comprehend the issue. I am assuming they have contacted the State Board of Education on this matter. Hopefully seeking legal counsel doesn't become necessary. That is costly to everyone concerned and in the long run, the monies the School Board spends affects all students. Keira must feel very awkward now at school. We have a school motto in our district "Kids First". You don't want to know how ironic that motto is. There are ways to fight the school board, and mobilization of a large committee of parents, teachers and concerned individuals who VOTE for them is usually a really good start as is contacting the State Board of Education Director. We found replacing our board was the only option we had in our district. Some people don't understand about "Kids First".

[Allie]

Flannel,

Your welcome, and I am sorry I was a little harsh in my response. I was just really upset by what I perceived as nay-saying, compounded by Granny's negative response.

I am sorry both you and your daughter started w/signs of p @ such a young age. I did not develop p until I was 13, my heart just goes out to all of you who have been suffering for a longer period of time.

Regards, Allie

[Allie]

for providing the information we needed.... Just wait until they get all of our lovely notes.....