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Parent raises safety and privacy concerns after used g‑tube feeding material left in trash at Belmont, board says it will investigate
Summary
At a Bensalem Township School District meeting, a parent and pediatric nurse said used blended feeding material from her son's g‑tube was being disposed in a common‑area trash can at Belmont, raising concerns about students rummaging and staff conduct; the board said it will investigate and report back.
At the Board of School Directors meeting for Bensalem Township School District, a parent and pediatric nurse identified as Britney told the board that used blended feeding material from her son's g‑tube had been disposed in a common‑area trash can at Belmont Elementary and asked what the district would do to prevent students from “picking out of the trash.”
Britney said the item she showed the board — a syringe attachment containing blended food — contained no needles or bodily fluids and that a school nurse had been disposing of similar items in a common area. She asked, “Is the district gonna be putting lids on the trash cans moving forward?” and said a faculty member photographed the trash and sent the image to Mr. Cohen, asking that the nurse be reprimanded.
The parent said the incident has changed how her son receives feedings; he now must go to the nurse’s office, which she described as “embarrassing” for him. She also alleged the student had been singled out and said she had been driven to involve legal counsel after what she described as harassment of her child’s doctors.
Board members asked for more information and said personnel details would need to be handled privately. Board President asked Mr. Cohen to report to the board at another time because the matter involves personnel. Superintendent Dr. Lee said he would need to hear both sides of the story and acknowledged the commenter’s frustration, saying, “I would have to hear both sides of the story. I'm hearing your story. I can hear your frustration.” The board said it would look into the situation and follow up.
The comment raised two operational questions: how health‑related feeding materials should be disposed of at school and how the district will prevent other students from accessing classroom or common‑area trash. Britney suggested lids on trash cans as one possible step. Board members did not adopt a formal policy change during the meeting; they asked staff to investigate and report back.
The public‑comment segment ended after the board pledged to gather more background information and discuss next steps in private as needed. No personnel discipline was announced at the meeting.
