I am having a problem with her punitive attitude about the grade skip. It's done.
I think I'd approach it from the stance of, "Yes, he has missed more than we would like due to illnesses and clearly he can really use some extra help with art. He *is* a third grader and will remain one, so what can we do to get him to where he needs to be? What can we do at home or in class to help you to help him? What would you recommend for any other third grader who was behind?"
Take the skip out of the equation. (Since it doesn't really belong there anyway...)
That's a good idea..... I have to be totally calm when i write this
