Disabled Texas student missing classes because of broken elevator

From WFAA-TV in Dallas:

DALLAS — Fourteen-year-old Robert Mota (pictured) has muscular dystrophy and is wheelchair-bound, but he's never let that stop him from trying hard at school.

In fact, the 9th grader normally earns As and Bs at Roosevelt High School. Recently, however, his grades have suffered.

Three of his classes are on the school's second floor, but he can't go upstairs because the elevator is broken.

"The elevator hasn't worked," Robert said. "This is the third week straight."

His teachers are supposed to provide him with assignments, but one teacher failed to do that and Robert received a 66 in English as a result.

"I'm really frustrated," said Robert's mom, Maria Castro. "I would hate for him to have to repeat the 9th grade for something that basically is out of his control and out of my control."

Other teachers marked Robert with an "unexcused absence," even though he is in school and goes to a separate classroom on the first floor while the elevator remains out of order.

Dallas ISD officials say they want the best bid from a company to fix the elevator, which could be repaired by next week.

"It's not fair that they are going to wait for the lowest bid or whatever instead of going ahead and paying for it right now," Robert said.

Through tears, Robert said he misses his classmates.

DISD acknowledged that a mistake was made on the student's report card. They vowed to make a grade change and remove the unexcused absences.

Roosevelt Leicha Shaver said efforts are under way to try and get elevator repairs started by Friday.