Boston Public School officers are investigating a “deeply concerning” incident involving a preschool scholar who was strapped to a chair by not less than one instructor, and a number of staffers have been positioned on go away whereas the probe performs out.
The Herald was informed three workers members, not less than considered one of whom is a instructor, on the James F. Condon School in South Boston have been positioned on go away after duct tape and nylon straps have been used to restrain a “very young” scholar to a chair in a classroom.
The college district confirmed the existence of an investigation on Sunday, three days after officers despatched a letter to K0/K1, or pre-kindergarten households at Condon, informing them of an incident that concerned an “inappropriate use of restraints.”
“I want to reassure you that this matter is being fully addressed consistent with school and district policies,” Region 2 School Superintendent Mary Driscoll wrote within the Thursday letter. “The BPS Office of Specialized Services is in direct contact with the college to assist workers with correct district protocols relating to using scholar restraints.
“As you know, the Condon K-8 School is working to provide all students with learning opportunities in safe and welcoming spaces,” the letter mentioned.
Superintendent of Schools Mary Skipper denounced the incident in a Sunday assertion, and Mayor Michelle Wu, talking to reporters earlier than taking her youngsters to a BPS Sundays occasion on the New England Aquarium, made comparable remarks.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our No. 1 priority,” Skipper mentioned. “This incident is deeply concerning and goes against our values and policies as a school district. We understand how difficult this has been for both our student and their family, and we will continue to work directly with them to provide all the support they need to feel safe and continue learning at BPS.”
Skipper mentioned the district took “immediate action” after studying of the incident, which concerned inserting “staff members on leave.”
“Our investigation remains ongoing, and we want to reassure all BPS families that we are working with our entire community to ensure that every student feels safe, secure and welcome,” Skipper mentioned.
While particulars surrounding the character of the incident are unclear, the letter signifies that the coed is receiving assist by way of the Office of Specialized Services, which was previously known as the district’s particular schooling division.
It was unclear whether or not unattached straps have been taped to the chair to restrain the coed, or if the chair was just like therapeutic ones utilized in particular schooling school rooms for college kids with bodily points to assist them sit up for classes.
Two years in the past, a Pennsylvania college district’s particular schooling division got here below hearth from dad and mom for utilizing restraining chairs for behavioral functions, reasonably than for the bodily wants of particular wants college students as meant.
Anacelia Cuevas, mom of the 3-year-old boy, informed WBZ-TV she has pulled her son, who has particular wants, out of college and plans to sue the district.
“The system failed my son,” Cuevas informed the station. “My son is not an animal, my son is not a criminal. He’s just a baby.”
Mayor Wu mentioned officers don’t have all the main points but, provided that the matter is below investigation, however mentioned her understanding was that “something happened that is against the policies of our schools as well as the values of how to keep our young people safe and cared for.”
“That is under investigation and we will follow up directly with those families, and just want to make sure that all of our young people and their caregivers and their loved ones know that school should be a place where they have every opportunity to blossom and no concerns at all about safety or anything like that,” Wu mentioned.
City Councilor-at-Large Erin Murphy mentioned she hasn’t been briefed on the matter, however said that in her “24 years as a special education teacher, many times I had students who were dysregulated and I never needed to use duct tape.”
“I hope the child is safe,” Murphy mentioned, “and that the investigation gives us more information to understand why the teachers thought that was necessary.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”