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Parents allege seclusion rooms and compliance failures, demand investigation from Brockton School Committee
Summary
Parents at Tuesday’s meeting alleged long‑standing use of seclusion rooms without approvals, facility and safety problems at Downey School, and procedural failures in special‑education placements; they demanded a committee investigation and accountability within one month.
A pair of parents told the Brockton School Committee on April 7 that special‑education practices in the district have endangered students and violated required oversight, and they asked the committee to investigate and report back within a month.
Lloyd Lamar said seclusion rooms have been used in the district for more than a decade “without documented approval from the fire department, health department, architects, or engineers.” He said the fire department ordered those rooms to cease use when the issue was raised and asked what documentation exists to show prior compliance. Lamar also alleged facility problems at Downey School (insufficient fire suppression, inadequate HVAC and potential mold or asbestos) and asked why inspection reports had not been provided to families on request.
Lamar said the committee should be concerned about procedural compliance with federal and state special‑education law, including prior written notice for significant program changes, appropriate least‑restrictive placement decisions, and timely delivery of compensatory services. He asserted that his autistic son was placed in seclusion for a total of 63 hours over a six‑month period and described lasting trauma: “As a result of that trauma, my autistic son thinks he’s the villain and he’s afraid.”
Superintendent Dr. Teleani and other officials did not offer a full response during public comment; committee members acknowledged the severity of the allegations and asked administrators to follow up. Committee members and the superintendent discussed next steps, including reviewing inspection and incident records and coordinating with city attorneys and relevant departments. No formal investigation outcome or timetable was announced at the meeting; Lamar said he and his family would expect answers within a month and that they would pursue further action if unsatisfied.
The committee heard multiple questions about oversight, record integrity, and whether staff maintained required restraint certification, but a public record of inspections or corrective actions was not presented on April 7. The allegations raise potential legal and safety issues that committee members said they would investigate through staff and legal counsel.
