(The Sentinel) – Earlier this month a Kansas City-area Kindergarten teacher with more than 25 years of experience was fired for “violating policy 3522,” the district’s policy on Emergency Safety Intervention.

According to FOX4 in Kansas City, Blue Valley teacher Barb Hart was fired on Oct. 13 for an incident two weeks prior.

“According to parents, Hart was called to the hallway by a colleague to assist with a special education student,” the TV station reported. “The child stuck in a loop wasn’t responding to directions despite their best efforts, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.”

Despite pleas from parents and the child’s mother, the board voted 6-1 to fire Hart.

“I just want to do something,” the child’s mother told FOX4 in an interview on Oct. 21. “I feel so sorry for the incident that happened to her. I can’t imagine how she handles everything, how her family went through all the difficult situations.”

According to FOX4, Hart picked up a 5-year-old student who was in distress and carried him to a “safe spot” to calm down.

The mother described her son as “affectionate” and “stubborn” and said Hart handled the situation the same way she would have — and said so to the principal on a feedback form about the incident.

“I said, ‘I’m aware of what happened, and I feel like Mrs. Hart’s action was to protect my child and other children,” the mother told FOX4. “‘I feel she took the right action and it was appropriate.’”

The mother also made clear she was not the one who reported the incident to the administration.

At the meeting where Hart was fired, parents spoke out.

“The policy for Blue Valley is to not touch the child and just let them flounder,” said parent Tiffany McCalla. “Where she gave dignity to that child, scooped them up, got them into a safe space where they were not on display for everybody else to see.”

According to the policy, district personnel “may use seclusion and/or physical restraint only when less restrictive alternatives are determined by a school employee to be inappropriate or ineffective, and when a student’s behavior presents an immediate danger to self or others.” (Emphasis added)

Several other parents expressed concern about the policy.

“The child is scared, they are looking for a trusted adult to guide them and to sometimes make decisions that ensure their wellbeing,” parent Jenny Stilley said. “If compassionate responses to these mental needs are punishable under Policy 3522 then the system is failing both our teachers and our students.”

Blue Valleyu Board Vice President Clay Norkey said he agreed “with nearly everything that was being said regarding that policy.” Norkey still voted to fire Hart.

Indeed, only board member Jim McMullen voted against the firing.

According to FOX4, Norkey blamed the state the firing, saying the policy is based on state law and guidelines.”

However, just a few days later, the TV station reported that the Kansas State Department of Education disagreed.

“KSDE does not draft any local BOE policies. Each Kansas district must draft local policies as an exercise of local control,” a statement to FOX4 read. “Employment issues are within the discretion of the school board. The State Board regulates the use of seclusion and restraint in schools but provides no rules, regulations or guidance on any employment issues.”

In their own statement, Blue Valley deflected blame for the firing of a veteran teacher.

“Blue Valley Schools understands that this personnel matter feels close for many in the school community,” the statement provided to FOX4 read. “Personnel decisions are carefully reviewed to ensure alignment with board policy, applicable law and the rights of all individuals involved. Out of respect for all involved and in accordance with the law, we are not able to share additional details. Our focus remains on supporting our students, staff and school communities while maintaining the confidentiality and dignity that situations like this require, while upholding the community’s high expectations of our schools.”