Latest Update: New York State Orders Sweeping Reforms at Salmon River Central School District Over Illegal Use of Wooden “Timeout Boxes” for Special Needs Students

FORT COVINGTON, N.Y. — More than five months after shocking photos of padded wooden boxes sparked national outrage, New York State Education Department investigators have confirmed that the Salmon River Central School District illegally confined at least five elementary-age students with disabilities in these enclosures, violating state regulations against seclusion.
The practice, which came to light in December 2025 via social media posts from concerned parents, involved wooden “calming stations” or “timeout boxes” — some with doors that could be held shut — used on children, including nonverbal autistic students and Native American (Akwesasne Mohawk) children from the St. Regis Mohawk Elementary School.
Parents reported hearing children screaming from the boxes, and the district initially downplayed the images before admitting their use. The boxes were reportedly built under direction from special education staff and removed after public backlash.
State Investigation Findings (May 2026)
A New York State Education Department compliance order, issued around May 8, 2026, determined the district violated rules prohibiting seclusion and improper restraints for students with disabilities. Key points include:

At least five students were placed in the wooden boxes.
Parents were not notified, another clear violation.
The enclosures constituted banned “seclusion” rather than appropriate behavioral supports.

The state has mandated broad reforms, including:

Revising individualized education programs (IEPs) and behavior plans for affected students (deadline: June 1, 2026).
Overhauling district policies to explicitly ban seclusion (by June 30).
Publicly posting updated policies (by July 15).
Documented staff training (by September 11, 2026).
Ongoing state monitoring.

District Response and Leadership Changes
The district placed educators on administrative leave, reassigned the superintendent, and hired interim leadership. In March 2026, it released its own investigation findings and promised changes. A new permanent head of special education, Rebecca Stanley, was approved in May, and officials say they are committed to full compliance.
However, some parents and community members, particularly in the Akwesasne Mohawk community (where roughly two-thirds of district students are Native), say reforms do not go far enough. They have called for stronger accountability, including staff dismissals and a formal apology, drawing painful parallels to historical residential school abuses.
Legal and Ongoing Actions

At least one lawsuit has been filed by parents of an 8-year-old nonverbal autistic child allegedly confined in a box.
A special education teacher was arrested in May 2025 on child endangerment charges (details unclear if directly related).
Governor Kathy Hochul previously called the allegations “highly disturbing.”

As of mid-June 2026, the district continues implementing reforms under state oversight. Parents remain vigilant, with many emphasizing the need for transparency and cultural sensitivity in this predominantly Native community.
This story highlights ongoing challenges in special education, particularly around restraint and seclusion practices, which are strictly regulated (and often banned) in New York to protect vulnerable students. The Salmon River case has drawn national attention to the importance of proper training, parental involvement, and alternatives like de-escalation techniques.
For the most current developments, check official sources like the New York State Education Department or the district website (srk12.org).