Salmon River School District Faces Lawsuit Over 'Timeout' Boxes for Special Needs Students

Use of 'Timeout' Boxes and Conflicting Reports

• 💡 Reports indicate that the Salmon River School District initially denied the use of three 'timeout' boxes, with the superintendent claiming he ordered their removal upon seeing them.
• 📌 However, the superintendent later admitted to three boxes being in use: one at St. Regis Mohawk School and two at Salmon Rivers campus.
• ⚠️ Some families have kept their children home from school due to ongoing safety concerns.

Community Outrage and Calls for Accountability

• 🎯 The use of these wooden punishment boxes, allegedly on special needs students, has caused significant outrage and garnered national attention, including from Governor Kathy Hokll.
• ⚖️ A lawsuit has been filed against the school district by a parent whose child was allegedly confined in one of the boxes.
• 🗣️ Community activists and former school board members are advocating for the accountability of all responsible parties, not just a few individuals.

Ongoing Safety Concerns and Demands

• 🚫 Two staff members, a behavioral interventionist and a special education teacher who allegedly advocated for and implemented the boxes, remain employed and actively working at the St. Regis Mohawk school.
• 🏥 The community views the actions taken so far as the bare minimum to ensure student safety and believes the environment remains unsafe.
• ✊ A community meeting is planned to address these issues, and a list of demands has been sent to tribal councils to ensure the school board listens to community concerns.
• 🤝 The focus is on perpetuating trauma and unsafe care by allowing individuals who implemented these boxes to remain in their positions.