Parents, advocates press Central Bucks SD board after state report on Jamison Elementary restraints

The Central Bucks School District Board of School Directors faced sustained public pressure Feb. 20 after commenters and family members said a Pennsylvania Department of Education review found students at Jamison Elementary were improperly restrained and otherwise mistreated.

The claims prompted repeated questions about when and how the district reported the incidents to ChildLine and why parents say they were not told earlier. Joanna Holton, a mother who identified herself as the parent of a kindergarten student at Jamison, told the board the state investigation found her son had been restrained and that his behavior support plan was not followed. “My son matters. He deserves to go to school and be safe,” Holton said.

The board had met in executive session multiple times in February “to consult with counsel regarding the independent investigation of alleged abuse at Jamison Elementary,” board president Irma Gibson said during opening announcements. Gibson said the board met Feb. 10, Feb. 19 and again immediately before the Feb. 20 meeting for that purpose.

Why it matters: parents, disability advocates and some board members said the allegations raise questions about mandatory reporting, personnel decisions and whether administrative actions protected students. Speakers asked the board to place…