WATSON - The parent of a child with Down syndrome said she received quite the shock Monday when a letter came home with her daughter claiming she was not allowed to have a device that is meant to keep her safe. 

It's called AngelSense, and is a GPS-monitoring system that will follow the child wherever she goes. 

Ashley Kellett said her daughter Peyton began wandering recently, so she purchased the device that tracks Peyton's location at all times. It also gives Kellett the ability to talk to her daughter.

Despite having a doctor's note calling the device a "medical necessity," the Livingston Parish School System considers it a recording device and says it's banned from school.

"I want to know at what point integrity and character were compromised for the safety of your disabled children," Kellett said.

The WBRZ Investigative Unit first met Peyton Kellett back in November. That's when her mother said Live Oak Elementary was not following her daughter's IEP or Individual Education Program. That IEP states that Peyton's worksheets need to be enlarged for her to see. Following the interview her mom did, the school began abiding by the IEP. 

The latest drama with her daughter's school has the school ready to explore a legal remedy.

"I am appalled...so appalled," Kellett said. "It's become this personal vendetta against me instead of taking care of Peyton."

In a lengthy statement issued by the Livingston Parish School System, Superintendent Joe Murphy stated it's against the law and school policies to eavesdrop or intercept any oral communication. He claims it's a violation of the privacy of 559 students who attend Live Oak Elementary. Murphy said school officials have contacted the mother and representatives of AngelSense to alert them of the violation. Representatives from AngelSense told school officials they will not reprogram the device to adhere to school policy without the express consent of the parent.

Attorney Charlotte McGehee represented another parent who captured a recording from a special needs student at a school last year. Camden Davis' story gained international attention after the recording revealed teachers mocking a noise the autistic student made. McGehee disagrees with Livingston Parish School System's interpretation of the law, claiming if AngelSense did record that the child couldn't wear it. 

"If you are party to a conversation you can record that," McGehee said. "Since the child is a minor, the mother has the authority on behalf of the child to act in her best interest. She's absolutely allowed to record."

Livingston Schools are prepared to vigorously fight this. McGehee believes they'll lose. 

"If there is a disparity between what a rule is for a school system and what the law is for the state of Louisiana, the law will trump," McGehee said.

As Kellett continues fighting for her daughter, she's astounded that the school would try to block her child from wearing something her doctor prescribed. 

"They are making medical decisions for my child," Kellett said. "Her doctor stated it's medically necessary, and they are making medical decisions for the safety of my child. If that's the case what other decisions are they making for children because it makes them feel uncomfortable or they don't like it?"

Livingston Parish Public Schools Superintendent Joe Murphy provided this statement:

Livingston Parish Public Schools confirms there is a child at Live Oak Elementary School who is currently wearing a personal electronic device that provides GPS tracking and live audio transmission services.  As the device is now programmed, it is in violation of the law and district policy.

According to La. R.S. 15:303, it is illegal for any person to eavesdrop or intentionally intercept, endeavor to intercept, or procure another person to intercept any oral communication. Such action is a violation of the privacy rights of the 559 other students who attend Live Oak Elementary School.  Furthermore, it is in clear violation of Livingston Parish Public Schools Policy JCDAE:

"No student, unless authorized by the school principal or his/her designee, shall use (must be in the off position), make visible, or operate any personal electronic device including any device in a student's possession that electronically communicates, sends, receives, stores, reproduces or displays voice and/or text communication or data on any elementary, middle, or secondary school grounds or any bus while being transported to and from school or any school functions."

School officials have contacted the mother of the child and representatives of AngelSense, the manufacturer of the device, to alert them of the violation of device.  Representatives from AngelSense have told school officials they will not reprogram the device to adhere to school policy without the express consent of the parent.  At this time, no cooperative response has been received from the mother of the child.

Furthermore, school officials have attempted to contact the physician who prescribed the device for the child, citing the "child's safety" as the reason for the device.  There appears to be no medical condition or safety precaution that would preempt the law nor the privacy rights of the other students to allow for the live transmission and possible recording of daily classroom activity.  School officials are trying to determine if the prescription is valid and to gain clarification on the device's medical remedy.

Without the mother's cooperation to discontinue the illegal transmission and possible recording activities in our classrooms, Livingston Parish Public Schools will be compelled to seek legal remedy to protect the privacy rights of the other 559 students who attend Live Oak Elementary School.

BATON ROUGE - The Middle District of Louisiana updated their website Tuesday with information about jury duty scams after a woman in Baton Rouge claims she almost fell for the trick.

The woman said she's not naive or easily taken for a ride.

"I received an odd call yesterday saying I was summoned for jury duty," she said. "I had missed that and I had a warrant out for my arrest."

She said the call immediately rattled her due to the amount of personal information the scammers had about her, like her husband's name, her full name, address and an old address where she used to live.

"It was so real because it had so much personal information," she said. "I thought it was legit."

The feds say this scam has worked before with at least one victim paying the scammer thousands of dollars and meeting the scammer not far from the federal courthouse. They say if you are ever contacted saying you have an active arrest warrant, don't believe it, as the feds would never do that.

"Warrants are always delivered in person by a U.S. Marshal or other representative of the law," said Mike McConnell, Clerk of Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. "The court never calls individuals to solicit that type of information, and we don't conduct that business through email. All of our correspondence happens via U.S. mail."

McConnell said it's easy for people to believe what they are being told on the phone by scammers.

"They are pretty sophisticated," McConnell said. "They often reference actual judge's names or staff member's names. They know where you live, what your number is, and of course in our social age that is easy to come by."

With lessons learned about this situation, this woman is just trying to spread the word so grinches out there don't steal your holiday cheer.

"Just be aware," she said. "The man was very thorough and sounded legit. He wanted to keep me on the phone, but I was able to ask questions because I knew it didn't sound right. Be cautious this time of year."

The feds said if you are concerned, call the Middle District Court at 225-389-3650 and speak with someone there. This same scam was very prevalent during the month of September as they received multiple calls from victims saying they were contacted.

All of the cases are referred to the Marshal's Service to investigate. But finding those responsible isn't easy, as they believe some of the calls originate outside the country.

PITTSBURGH, Penn.- The embattled former East Baton Rouge Parish school superintendent known for his combative attitude and abrasive behavior landed in Pennsylvania where he's now accused of abusing a student.

Dr. Bernard Taylor is now a principal at Westinghouse Academy 6-12, and was placed on leave in September for the incident. Currently, he is nowhere to be found on the school's website.

A parent from the school, Javonda Thomas, said she had been complaining that her 14-year old daughter had been bullied. When her daughter got into a fight a school security guard broke it up and that's when Taylor intervened.

"The principal fell onto my daughter, grabbed her by her collar and dragged her down the sidewalk and up cement steps and then slammed her onto the floor inside the school like a rag doll," Thomas said to a reporter from KDKA-TV.

KDKA-TV reported that there are two different investigations. One is being conducted by the Pittsburgh Police Department while the other is being conducted by school police.

"I want Dr. Taylor fired," Thomas said. "I'm going to sue him to the fullest extent for putting his hands on my 14-year-old child."

Taylor's tumultuous time in Baton Rouge ended in 2015 when the school board did not renew his contract. He was released a month early from his three-year contract. During his tenure here, the state launched an investigation into cheating and records being changed.

In 2014, Chief Investigative Reporter Chris Nakamoto with the WBRZ Investigative Unit had the opportunity to ask Taylor about the records:

    NAKAMOTO: Were any records changed in this building yesterday?

    TAYLOR: You know, that question is so foolish, I'm not going to entertain it as a question, next.

    NAKAMOTO: Were you aware of any records being changed in this building?

    TAYLOR: I'm not going to entertain any question that has no legitimacy with an answer.

    NAKAMOTO: Did you change any records in this building?

    TAYLOR: Do you have another question?

Taylor landed in Pittsburgh after his brief stint in Baton Rouge. Prior to Baton Rouge he was the superintendent in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He left there, and filed a lawsuit which ended in a $260,000 settlement.

With Taylor now on leave again, it appears his alleged antics manifested into something physical.

Thomas said she spoke to Taylor about the alleged abuse her daughter endured.

"His response to me was they don't need to be down here acting like monkeys," Thomas said.

We reached out to the Pittsburgh School System, but did not hear back. The police department there said it can't comment on pending investigations.

BATON ROUGE - Nearly a month after an alleged fall sent a resident of a group home to the hospital with bruises and broken bones, public records released by the state show problems the state investigated there.

A group home located on Brookshire Avenue is where Rebecca Jacocks was left badly injured. The home is owned by Rescare.

Records obtained by the WBRZ Investigative Unit show the state has been looking into problems there for at least a year. 

Most recently, a letter sent by the Louisiana Department of Health stated due to "deficient practices found to exist, the Brookshire Avenue Group Home no longer qualifies as a provider of services in the Medicaid program." The letter cites "Client Protections" and "Facility Staffing" as items that were out of compliance. 

The state says that letter is the first step at taking action against the home. However, they have 90 days to get into compliance. 

Other problems noted in the records date back to a year ago. In August 2018 the provider failed to ensure that results of an abuse allegation were reported within five working days. One year later, a client was found on the floor unresponsive at 5:30 in the morning. Paramedics were not contacted for almost an hour and a half.

Last year, WBRZ exposed Caleb Sharp's story. He was a 22-year old living in a group home run by Rescare in Tangipahoa Parish. Sharp's lawyers filed a lawsuit claiming he was physically beaten, urinated on and sexually assaulted. His case led to the arrests of two group home workers. 

"Rescare is responsible for hiring qualified employees and training them to care for people with special needs," Sharp's lawyer Scott Mansfield said. "Rescare hires unqualified workers and families trust these people to care for their loved ones with special needs and Rescare has failed them."

We reached out to Rescare, now known as BrightSpring Health Services, and a public relations firm released the following:

"We take the care and services we provide our clients very seriously, including any allegations of misconduct by employees or unsatisfactory reports. Maintaining a strong record of care and compliance is a critical component of serving our clients. Due to confidentiality requirements, we are unable to provide additional details about any individual's care or condition—past or present. However, we work diligently to submit corrective action plans to the state, addressing any issues as quickly and thoroughly as possible to ensure we can provide the safe, caring environment our clients and staff deserve."