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Parents, staff urge board to reinstate kindergarten teacher after restraint allegation
Summary
Dozens of Brentwood parents, staff and students urged the school board to bring back Mrs. Proctor following a playground incident; a parent’s written statement alleges an improper six‑minute restraint of her 5‑year‑old and questions whether staff were trained to use holds.
Dozens of Brentwood residents and Swayze staff urged the Brentwood School Board to reinstate kindergarten teacher Mrs. Proctor and to improve communication after an on‑playground restraint incident that has split the community.
At the start of public input, the board chair read a signed statement from parent Erin Bouchard Callahan alleging that a teacher restrained her 5‑year‑old son for six minutes, that the teacher was not trained in restraints, and that New Hampshire law limits restraint to imminent risk. The letter said the child later screamed for the teacher to stop while the parent watched surveillance footage, and asked the district to respect the child’s privacy. The letter also said the family did not request the teacher’s removal.
Multiple commenters at the meeting, including Diane Alden, a paraprofessional at Swayze, described Mrs. Proctor as a veteran teacher and asked the board to “bring her back.” Alden said the students’ education has suffered since the teacher’s removal and that “at this age, children depend on stability, routine and trust in relationships.” Parent speakers and alumni echoed that plea, saying young children had become upset and that lesson plans were compressed because of the staffing change.
Other parents asked for clearer communication about the investigative process and what policies govern staff response to student behavior. Melody Santos said parents need an explanation of “what the plan going forward for your children is x y z,” and asked the district to prioritize future safety plans. Several speakers said they had posted signs around town in support of Mrs. Proctor because they felt their concerns were not being heard.
Board members cautioned the audience that personnel matters and student privacy limit what can be disclosed in public session; the chair repeatedly reminded attendees that public comment is not a back‑and‑forth and that questions would be answered after the meeting as appropriate. The chair closed public input at roughly 07:05.
What happens next: the board discussed procedures and directed administration to provide follow‑up, and several parents asked that actions and communications be documented in the meeting minutes. No formal personnel decision was taken in open session at this meeting.
