Father who sued Horry Schools over treatment of autistic son is running for school board

Sun News - 1/18/2022

Jan. 17—An Horry County Schools parent and autism advocate who sued the district over alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act is running for school board, he announced Monday.

David Warner announced his run for the District 10 seat on the Horry County School board, which is currently held by Vice Chairperson Neil James.

Warner said his experience as a special needs parent pushed him to pursue a run for school board, and his campaign announcement focused on his advocacy for students with disabilities. He said the board needs more people who are knowledgeable about individualized education plans and other challenges that students with special needs might encounter.

"It was that personal experience that I've had with trying to see things changed within our own district and also seeing all the other families that walked beside me through all of that," Warner told The Sun News.

After a lengthy dispute with the school district over his request to have an Applied Behavior Analysis therapist in school with his son, Zakkary, Warner brought his battle to federal court in 2020. The suit was dismissed last year, but Warner appealed and the case is ongoing, the release said.

"I just think that because of (the dispute and lawsuit), I have a different perspective that will help improve what we already have," Warner said. "No parent lavishes in taking their school district to court ... and it wasn't the first decision that I tried."

He said he has communicated with the board for years, but has been disappointed by the lack of change and action to follow those discussions, prompting him to seek his own spot on the board.

District 10 covers parts of Carolina Forest, Conway, Green Sea Floyds and Loris. The 2022 Horry County school board election is in November, and the filing period begins mid-March.

This story was originally published January 17, 202210:53 AM.

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