The Salmon River Central School District in rural upstate New York is under investigation following allegations that an unruly student was placed in a wooden box.
“We recognize the pain, concern, and distress these events have caused, and we are truly sorry for the harm and trauma this has resulted in for our community,” Board of Education President Jason Brockway said in the statement. “We want to be clear: the circumstances surrounding these allegations do not reflect the values and standards of care that guide this district.”
The Salmon River District, located near the Canadian border, serves a large population of Native American students. The elementary school where the incidents allegedly took place is located on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, although the district includes the nearby town of Fort Covington outside of the reservation.
Classes at all grade levels were held remotely on Dec. 18–19 in order to accommodate the ongoing investigation at district facilities, Brockway said.
The district did not provide further details on the situation, including the use of time-out boxes, also referred to as “calming stations,” or what events triggered the Board of Education’s action.
“Any space for time-outs, as well as the circumstances leading to its use, must meet strict legal and regulatory requirements, which the district ensures are met in every instance,“ Harper wrote. ”Parents are notified on the same day whenever a student is placed in a timeout setting.”
He said that the time-out boxes will no longer be used in Salmon River schools.
Community members posted that time-out boxes are more commonly used in special needs settings. The conversation on the topic took place two days before the Board of Education announced the investigation and employee sanctions during its Dec. 17 meeting.
“I understand what you’re saying about de-escalation spaces in [a] psychiatric setting ... but that comparison doesn’t apply here,” one parent posted. “These were public schools, not psychiatric facilities, using wooden confinement boxes with non-medical staff, no transparent protocols, and no informed parent consent.”
In an email response to The Epoch Times, the governing board of the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation, the St. Regis Tribal Council, shared the Dec. 17 letter it provided to the Board of Education, calling for Harper’s termination.
“We have no faith in district leadership, and the recent actions show gross mismanagement, and overreaching, broad, operational failures to address student and educator needs,” the letter stated.
“We do not take this lightly. It is clear what transpired should have never happened, and our children deserve better from those in charge of their care, especially district leadership and key decision makers.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the use of time-out boxes in the Salmon River district “raises serious concerns regarding the safety of children” at the school.
The Epoch Times reached out to the New York State Education Department for comment but received no response.
