Parents and witnesses say nonverbal Jamison student was abused; district and police say investigations found no evidence

Parents, witnesses and a board member accused school staff of physically and emotionally mistreating a nonverbal student in a Jamison Elementary special-education classroom during public comment at the Central Bucks School District board meeting on Jan. 16.

The district said it opened an internal investigation and filed a ChildLine report; Warwick Township police also investigated and concluded their criminal inquiry with no findings of abuse. Parents and whistleblowers told the board the internal review and police outcome do not reflect multiple eyewitness accounts of incidents they say included forcing a child to walk barefoot on hot blacktop and wood chips, prolonged restraints, removal of a communication device and other degrading treatment.

Why it matters: The allegations involve a medically vulnerable, nonverbal student and touch on district reporting and response protocols for suspected abuse. Several speakers said the district’s handling harmed parents’ trust and asked the board to pursue further accountability or resignations; the district said it is cooperating with authorities and that safety remains a priority.

The parents’ account and whistleblower reports

At the meeting Deborah Cannon (public commenter) described allegations she said were raised by a whistleblower and summarized them…