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Parents urge answers after claims students were put in 'closet' at special‑needs class
Summary
Several parents and relatives told the Gilroy Unified board they were alarmed by reports that a teacher placed students in a closet as a 'calming corner' at Rucker School; they asked the district to meet with families and provide a full explanation. Board and administration did not offer specific investigative findings in the meeting.
Several parents and community members used the board's public‑comment period to demand answers after they said they learned that a teacher had placed special‑needs students in a closet and later was removed from the classroom.
"My granddaughter is nonverbal," Maria Salinas told the board. "If what we heard is true, we are glad that the teacher is no longer in the classroom. However, we are disappointed in the way that this matter was handled. Why keep parents in the dark? You owe us an explanation."
Fabiola Batas, who said her grandson is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair, described the child's vulnerability and urged better training and protections for students and staff. "Put yourself in that closet with no water, no lights, nothing to help you out," she said, describing how the child might have felt.
Another commenter said the problem reflected broader concerns about inclusion, oversight and training in classrooms that serve students with complex medical and behavioral needs.
Board members did not provide new details about the alleged incident during the public comment period. The public‑comment speakers asked administration to meet with affected families, provide a timeline of events, and explain when and how the situation was reported and addressed. There was no recorded staff response presenting investigatory findings at the meeting.
The board later reported several closed‑session personnel actions (including the release of 19 temporary certificated employees and a student‑expulsion vote), but the meeting record did not link those actions explicitly to the allegations raised during public comment.
Because public commenters described alleged conduct involving students, the district may be limited in what it can publicly disclose about personnel or student‑discipline investigations. Parents in the meeting asked for direct communication, a meeting with administration and an apology for how information reached families.
