Parent tells Box Elder board he was denied meeting about autistic son's alleged seclusion-room incident

During the public-comment portion of the Box Elder School District board meeting a parent, identified in the record as Mr. Norton, told the board he had repeatedly asked to meet with board members and district staff to discuss what he described as an incident involving his autistic son.

Norton said he had sought meetings "twice and then once today again" and had not received a response. He described being denied information about seclusion rooms and raised specific allegations about an episode when his son was placed in a space and a staff member repeatedly opened and slammed the door while the child tried to fall asleep.

"I have asked the school board members twice and then once today again to meet with me about my concerns that I have about what happened to my autistic son. I have not received a response," Norton told the board. He said the district had told the public it would not show seclusion rooms citing confidentiality concerns, but he said those concerns did not apply when school was not in session and that he wanted to see the rooms after hours.

Norton described the episode as "egregious" and urged accountability. "Those acts to those 2 boys was egregious. It was wrong," he said, adding he had spoken with one person on the board in private but had not received the broader response he sought.

Board members acknowledged his comment and President Tiffany Summers told him, "We will respond to you tomorrow." The superintendent and staff later told Norton they would forward his email and follow up.

During the meeting the board read its public-comment guidelines and emphasized that personnel matters and complaints about specific employees are handled through the superintendent consistent with law and district policy; the board noted that written responses would be read at a future meeting if additional study is needed.