BPS staffers on leave after pre-K student strapped to chair

Several Boston Public Schools staff members have been placed on leave following a “deeply concerning” incident in which a young child was strapped to a chair at a South Boston school, according to officials.

The child, a student at the James F. Condon School, was restrained with nylon straps, which were then fastened to a chair with duct tape, a BPS spokesperson confirmed. The incident happened on Feb. 14, according to WBZ, which first reported the story.

School officials only recently learned of the “inappropriate use of restraints on students,” Region 2 Superintendent Mary Driscoll wrote in a letter to the Condon’s pre-kindergarten families last Thursday.

“I want to reassure you that this matter is being fully addressed consistent with school and district policies,” Driscoll wrote. “The BPS Office of Specialized Services is in direct contact with the school to support staff with proper district protocols regarding the use of student restraints.”

BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper said in a statement the district took immediate action and placed an unspecified number of staff members involved in the incident 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 said.

She emphasized the district’s focus on student safety and well-being.

“This incident is deeply concerning and goes against our values and policies as a school district,” Skipper said. “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.”

The 3-year-old child’s mother, Anacelia Cuevas, told The Boston Globe Monday that she first learned of the incident about two weeks after it happened, when she got a call from the state’s Department of Children and Families. According to DCF’s report, a teacher walked into the boy’s classroom and saw him strapped to the chair, Cuevas told the Globe.

“The Department of Children and Families received a report and is investigating,” a DCF spokesperson told Boston.com.

Cuevas told the Globe her son has symptoms of autism and is “basically nonverbal,” though he hasn’t yet received a formal diagnosis. She’s since pulled the boy and his twin brother from Condon.

“I’m in denial,” Cuevas told the newspaper. “I just don’t want to believe that this happened to my son.”

Abby Patkin

Staff Writer

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

Want to leave a comment?

Create an Account Or sign in to your account

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

To comment, please verify your email address

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com