
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 19, 1993                   TAG: 9305190174
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

BEE-STING FEARS SIDELINE BOY, 7

School officials have arranged a meeting with the guardian of a student who says the boy has not been allowed outside for recess for nearly three years because he is extremely allergic to bees.

Virginia Childress is the great-aunt and guardian of Terry Proffitt, 7, a first-grade student at Summer Hill Elementary School. Childress wants the schedule of a visiting nurse changed so she can accompany Terry outside for the noon break.

Arthur Johnson, spokesman for city schools, said Terry had been outside with supervision since the beginning of the year except for the past two weeks. Childress disagreed.

About two weeks ago, school officials allowed Terry to go outside and stand next to his teacher for three days during recess, Childress said. Then the school discovered a medical form for Terry was lost. It concerned an injection in case of a bee sting.

When she delivered another copy of the form, Childress said, she was told he could no longer go outside.

She called the school superintendent and threatened to sue the school system. Two hours later, Associate Superintendent Willis B. McLeod called to arrange a meeting for today with Childress, the nurse, Summer Hill's principal and other school officials. Childress said her attorney also would attend.

Terry often is sick and needs fresh air, Childress said. He weighs 34 pounds and suffers from severe asthma and allergies. In the case of a bee sting, Terry must have the antidote injection within five seconds, she said.

When he was stung by a bee at age 4, his neck became swollen and turned black. He passed out and his lungs collapsed, she said.

Unless she goes to school when the weather is warm, Childress says, Terry can't go outside. This year she is working as a baby sitter and can't be there daily. She also has to accompany him on field trips.

Childress said she's not optimistic about the meeting. She said McLeod recommended last week that she put Terry in a special education program so he could get better medical care.

"I told them I would never in my lifetime do this to him. Terry is an A student," Childress said.

by CNB