UPDATE: Change of Stance on Wish of Dying Man Cheered on Facebook

EAST HAVEN, CT — Word that the East Haven Board of Education may have had a change of stance about allowing the children of a dying man to attend school together has been uniformly cheered on social media by those following the story.

Brian Savo has a dying wish that his children could attend school together so they can comfort one another as he continues to die. Savo has been heroically battling ALS for the past nine years, and he tearfully pleaded this week with the Board of Education to honor his dying request.

Savo told school board members that he'd like his daughter to join his son at East Haven Academy so they can provide emotional support for one another as he continues to die. He said he was initially told that was not possible due to transportation concerns and East Haven Academy's enrollment is based on a lottery system but on Friday there was some renewed hope for Savo as school officials will meet this week to formally consider his request.

"Since my daughter's 3 both of them have been going down to Washington, D.C. to fight for patient's rights and to fight for me. Well I'm here to fight for them. If any of you are parents, you'd be doing the same exact thing," Savo said while becoming emotionally distraught during the school board meeting.

He said he understands there are rules but sometimes circumstances require rules be broken. He said he has heard that if the school board lets his children attend the same school then it would open the door to other requests.

After this week's meeting, East Haven school officials released a statement to WTNH News 8 saying the district has the "utmost compassion" for Savo but that it must act in within the rules. However, on Friday, school officials offered Savo hope by saying a special meeting has been called for Wednesday, July 18 to consider the dying man's request.(See the East Haven School Board Chairwoman's full statement below.)

The news of that special meeting being called has been widely cheered on social media.

Some of the responses have been:

"Thank you. Please do the right thing as soon as possible and notify the Savo's that their children can be together."

And, "It's the right thing to do."

And, "May this be resolved at next week's meeting in favor of the family. We are all neighbors in the Momauguin neighborhood and see each other in daily crossings - let's be compassionate."

And, “My thoughts are with this family. I hope the community comes together to embrace this family.”

At the meeting held earlier this week Savo pleaded with board members to do the right thing. Savo, 42, a life-long East Haven resident, said his wife was six months pregnant with their second-child when he was diagnosed with ALS.

He said his children wake up with him everyday and he asked school officials if they understood what it's like to not be able to get out of bed and have his two children, ages 11 and 9, and his wife get him out of bed, dress and feed him

. "This disease has no boundaries, no limitations ... the disease is death. There is no cure. ... It's just when am I going to die ... When is God going to call my name," Savo told school board members.
Savo's video has been seen by more than 35,000 people.

In a lengthy statement issued Friday afternoon, Michelle A. DeLucia, Chairperson, East Haven Board of Education, said, "In response to current publications and several reported inaccuracies I have decided to share a statement. First and foremost, the board has the greatest sympathy for the Savo family, and the Board will be considering Mr. Savo's request for a waiver of the lottery system for his daughter at a special meeting I have scheduled for Wednesday July 18.

For clarification, Mr. Savo presented his request to the Board during public comment at the Board meeting on Tuesday evening, and action at that time would have been improper. In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the Board cannot take action on matters that are not on the agenda. Mr. Savo attended the meeting and made his request during public comment, the Board is required to wait for a future meeting to address his request. At no time was a motion made to add a vote on this matter to the agenda that evening. We will be posting an appropriate agenda so that the Board can consider Mr. Savo's request on July 18.
It should be noted that the Superintendent did not and does not have the authority to make exceptions to the Board policy establishing a lottery for admission to East Haven Academy. Only the Board can revise or waive its policy.

Keep in mind that in 2010, the Board adopted a lottery system for admission to East Haven Academy. As adopted, the lottery system does not make provision for exceptions under any circumstances. Since that time, the Administration has faithfully implemented the lottery system for admission to East Haven Academy, and no exceptions have been granted.

Speaking as an individual Board member, I believe that an exception in this case is warranted, but a decision must be made by the full Board. When the Board addresses Mr. Savo's request, I will be recommending that the Board establish a Committee to review the lottery policy at East Haven Academy and to recommend to the Board standards for making hardship exceptions to the policy in the future," DeLucia concludes.