FORT COVINGTON, New York (WWNY) – The parents of a special needs student plan to sue the Salmon River Central School District over its alleged use of a wooden box to confine their son.
A notice of claim has been filed on behalf of Rhonda Garrow and Jacob Sunday, who have an 8-year-old autistic child.
It names the school district, the board of education, then-superintendent Stanley Harper, and school board president Jason Brockway as respondents.
The notice says Garrow and Sunday learned about the existence of what Garrow described as a “box-shaped wooden dog cage” in December.
According to the document, Sunday met with Mohawk School Principal Alison Benedict, who confirmed the box existed and that it was specifically for his son. The claim says that Benedict denied that the school had used it or confined the boy.
Following the meeting, the parents reported the box to St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police, who launched an investigation.
The claim states “that although the district later admitted to the existence of at least 3-4 such boxes in total between Salmon River and Mohawk School, they claimed the so-called ‘boxes’ were not used and/or alternatively claimed that any parents new of and approved of them, but no one ever informed the parents of M.J.S. (the child), about their existence at either School or in M.J.S.’s classroom.”
Greg Rinckey, the parents’ attorney, told 7 News the child is autistic and non-verbal, but shows negative reactions to photos of the box. He said the boy indicates he doesn’t want to go to school.
He also said that when the boy changed schools within the district, the box was moved with him.
The notice of claim says the child and his parents have suffered “economic loss and emotional damages, some of which may be permanent in nature.”
The school district’s board of education launched an investigation into the allegations.
It also assigned Harper to home duties and placed Benedict and other staff on administrative leave.
A new acting superintendent was recently appointed.
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