Parents, students urge Seminole board to reinstate Millennium teacher and press for restraint reforms after reported 11‑minute incident

An extended public comment period at the Seminole County School Board’s May 12 meeting centered on two related controversies: the non‑reappointment of longtime Millennium Middle School performing‑arts teacher Ms. Jenny Galarza and a separate reported incident in which a 7‑year‑old special‑needs student was held in a prone restraint for about 11 minutes.

Michael Foster, PTSA president at Millennium Middle School, told the board he feared the conditions supporting students were jeopardized by non‑reappointments and said continuity matters for children. “Students benefit from experienced educators who know their community deeply,” Foster said, noting several named teachers who were not recommended for reappointment and a petition with nearly 1,300 signatures in support of retaining a teacher.

Several students spoke in support of Ms. Galarza. Seventh‑grader Mallory Foster described the theater program as a “community where students build confidence” and said losing the teacher would remove a mentor and safe space for many students. Multiple alumni and parents echoed that concern and urged the board to intervene or investigate the principal’s decision.

Parents and disability advocates also pressed the board on a separate safety incident. Raquel Molina and others reported that a 7‑year‑old student was restrained face‑down for 11 minutes; callers asked detailed questions about the district’s restraint reporting, staff training and oversight. “Is restraint practiced with full fidelity in SCPS? Which crisis intervention program is used? Were involved staff certified and were they last trained?” Molina asked.

Kelly Schumer, who identified herself as the parent of a nonspeaking autistic child, described the medical and safety risks of prone restraint and urged the district to train staff in safer alternatives. “Prone restraint in schools needs to stop,” she said, citing research and noting that prone restraint has been banned in other states.

Barbara Beasley of the Autism Society of Florida told the board federal guidance warns against interventions that impair breathing and that restraint should not be used for punishment or convenience. “This child’s dignity was not preserved,” Beasley said, adding that although it appears the district followed law in the incident, policies and transparency should be strengthened.

Other commenters, including Alexis Ferguson (a teacher and Autism Society board member), urged the district to install cameras in self‑contained classrooms and special‑education settings to protect children and staff and to provide accountability when families question what occurred.

Several speakers challenged the explanation that the non‑reappointments were budget‑driven; one commenter noted the positions are posted on the district website and said the community wants more transparency about the principal’s decision‑making process. Leslie Lavery called for checks and balances and asked the board to "pull the curtain back" regarding the staffing changes at Millennium.

Board members thanked speakers and noted they heard the concerns; the chair closed the public‑comment period and adjourned the meeting. No formal action reversing the non‑reappointments or changing restraint policy was taken at the meeting; several callers requested the board place these topics on a future agenda for investigation or policy consideration.

Next steps the public requested included an independent review of the personnel decisions at Millennium, clearer documentation and auditing of restraint incidents, renewed training in non‑prone de‑escalation techniques, and consideration of cameras in special‑education classrooms to increase transparency.