MONTAGUE — Parents are voicing their desire for better communication, accountability and policy changes in light of classroom incidents at Hillcrest Elementary School involving students with autism.
Three parents spoke at Tuesday’s Gill-Montague Regional School District School Committee meeting about experiences their children, who were all identified as having autism and are non-speaking, had in the same classroom at Hillcrest Elementary, which serves children in pre-K through first grade.
Parent Natalie Spatcher said these incidents took place in a classroom that offers specialized instruction to students who have Individualized Education Program (IEP) plans and she has retained a special education attorney, Collins Fay-Martin.
“While every family’s story is different, a common theme has emerged,” Spatcher said. “Concerns were raised, families left unheard and vulnerable children deserve better. Tonight is bigger than my family. Tonight is about accountability. Tonight is about transparency. This is about me making sure that no child experiences what these children have experienced again.”
Spatcher spoke of incidents involving her son, one of which being when her son bit a teacher while one adult held his arms, one held his legs and another was changing his diaper. An incident report completed by school staff and an investigation document from April that was reviewed by the Recorder provided details. Spatcher said this type of toileting was not part of her son’s approved behavioral intervention plan.
Another incident in May that Spatcher described during the School Committee meeting came when her son reportedly dropped a cheese puff on the floor and walked away without picking it up, and her son was allegedly “physically grabbed and pulled” by a teacher. Spatcher said her son was frightened by the physical contact and he reacted “by choking a teacher.” A Department of Children and Families intake report provided by Spatcher said it “screened out” this report, meaning the report to the department by a mandated reporter doesn’t meet the criteria for abuse or neglect, and that the district would be completing an investigation.
Spatcher said the district’s investigation concluded that the teacher made physical contact with her child. Spatcher confirmed Thursday that a cease and desist was filed against the teacher as a result.
Parents Tara Speranzo and Jordan Garren also spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, with Garren reading a statement that shared concern about bathroom practices, noting incidents where children were changed in front of their peers, and concern that watching this happen will impact their son, who they described as being semi-potty trained and wearing special underwear, requiring support from staff to use the bathroom.
“Our family’s worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone, and I worry that witnessing inappropriate toileting practices could cause confusion or regression,” Gerran said. “Unfortunately, the incidents that occurred this year have shaken the trust many families have placed in the program and in the district.”
Mikayla Alisauskas spoke about her four sons who have been through the Gill-Montague Regional School District, and shared one incident where her 6-year-old was allegedly changed in front of a classroom this past school year. She said her son began experiencing “difficult behaviors” like not wanting to go to school, and attempted to get off the bus.
Alisauskas said she was not notified about this changing incident until two weeks later, and she found out that a 51A report was filed. According to the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, a 51A report is when a mandated reporter suspects a child is suffering from abuse or neglect, and an oral and written report is made to DCF about the suspicion.
“I really hope that with all of us coming forward about our children and the horrifying things that have happened to them, that something changes,” Alisauskas said, “[that] the mandated reporting becomes accurate. I’m terrified that some teachers are too afraid to say something about things they’ve seen, because they don’t want to lose their jobs.”
In the incident report about Spatcher’s son, mention of changing students in the classroom and not in the nurse’s office or bathrooms was investigated. One staff member spoke about changing Spatcher’s son and another child in the back of a classroom outside of a bathroom door that other staff witnessed, but said other students wouldn’t have been able to see. The report notes that staff were instructed to only change students in the nurse’s office or bathroom to ensure privacy for the student, with additional training on district toileting and self-care policy being implemented as part of professional development.
In response, interim Superintendent Tari Thomas said in a statement on Thursday that the district is aware of “recent concerns and expressions of mistrust shared by some parents regarding staff conduct and the perceived thoroughness of our administrative response.” She said the school district takes these concerns “incredibly seriously.”
“Our protocols are clear: the district investigates all reports of alleged misconduct, immediately placing employees on administrative leave pending investigation outcomes, and takes appropriate action based on objective findings,” the statement reads. “As mandated reporters, all district employees are required to report allegations of misconduct to the Department of Children and Families.”
Thomas said that while privacy laws restrict how much can be shared about any actions taken related to personnel, the community shouldn’t “mistake this confidentiality for inaction.” She said when misconduct is substantiated, action is taken up to or including termination, and law enforcement referral. Additionally, the district’s Office of Pupil Services will give quarterly updates and presentations to the School Committee to provide more accountability and transparency.
“The School Committee cares deeply about all students and families in our district,” Jane Oakes, chair of the School Committee, said on Thursday.
Oakes said at Tuesday’s meeting that the committee was not able to respond to the comments made by the parents, based on guidance from state law, but requests could be sent to the committee for informational follow-ups.
Changes requested by the families at the meeting included updated policy around staff helping students use the bathroom, more transparency regarding classroom incidents, implementing greater safety precautions and conducting a review of the staffing for those working with special education students, among others.
“When concerns arise, families must be able to trust that there are systems in place to provide oversight, accountability, transparency and compliance with mandated reporting requirements,” Gerran told the committee.
Moving forward, Spatcher said she and other families intend to come back before the School Committee at subsequent meetings in August and September. The next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Turners Falls High School.
