Fox29 WFLX TV, West Palm Beach, Florida-Alex Barton starts new school

Alex Barton starts new school

By Al Pefley  email

Hobe Sound, FL (WFLX) - A Treasure Coast boy, who made headlines nationwide last year, has started at a new school.

Alex Barton, who just had his 7th birthday last week, is now enrolled at a private school in Palm Beach County. He started there last week as a second grader.

You may recall that Alex, who has a form of autism, was humiliated in April 2008 at Morningside Elementary in Port St. Lucie when his kindergarten teacher asked her students to vote on whether Alex should remain in their class.

The teacher, Wendy Portillo, was given a one-year suspension without pay for doing that.

Alex was home-schooled last year and was taught by a teacher who came to his house.

Alex's mom says her son is thriving in his new school. "He's doing so well because his teachers are patient and understanding, and they're willing to work with the students and each need that a student has," Melissa Barton said. 

She asked that we not name the new school that Alex attends.  The family no longer lives in St. Lucie County and has moved to Martin County.

She says she's still planning to file a federal lawsuit against the St. Lucie County School District and Portillo.