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Parent urges RSU 03 board to install seclusion room, warns of costly out‑of‑district placements
Summary
During public comment a parent described her 5‑year‑old's behavioral needs, asked the board to install an 8x8 padded seclusion (safe) room in Mount View Elementary and said the district proposed a $50,000/year out‑of‑district placement instead of a roughly $1,000 isolation room. Superintendent said staff would follow up.
A parent urged the RSU 03 (MSAD 03) school board on Monday evening to provide a seclusion room and additional supports so her 5‑year‑old son could remain in district rather than be sent to an out‑of‑district placement.
“My name is Melissa, and we’re here on behalf of our son,” the parent said during the public‑comment period, describing a child diagnosed with ADHD who has been suspended and repeatedly removed from class for unsafe behavior. She said the district’s team recommended assigning Behavioral Health Professionals (BHPs) and suggested building an 8‑by‑8 padded “safe room” so children could de‑escalate and return to general education.
Melissa told the board she was offered out‑of‑district options (Brewer or Belgrade) that would require an hour‑long van ride each way. She said district staff quoted a roughly $50,000 annual cost for an out‑of‑district placement for a single child, while an isolation room that multiple children could use would cost about $1,000.
The parent asked how families should proceed and where to seek guidance. She described a recent IEP team Zoom meeting and subsequent local meetings with the principal and special‑education director; she also said that a BHP team had been assigned and that clinicians were collecting data to form a behavior plan.
Superintendent Lisa acknowledged the family’s advocacy and said she had already discussed the matter with staff. “I will be speaking with her again directly tomorrow. We’ll address this again and we will get back in touch with you,” she told the parent, promising follow‑up contact and noting the BHPs’ positive work so far.
Board members asked clarifying questions and expressed appreciation for the parent’s advocacy. One member noted the district’s transportation constraints and the difficulty for young children of long bus rides in winter, and another urged the superintendent and special‑education staff to provide a prompt update.
The parent described practical difficulties at school — frequent calls to pick up the child after prolonged episodes, teachers removing other students from classrooms during incidents, and inconsistent in‑class supports. She said clinicians had recommended the safe room partly to avoid repeated out‑of‑district placements and to preserve academic time for other students.
The superintendent and board committed to follow up with the parent and the special‑education team. The meeting record shows the superintendent agreed to communicate with the family this week and to continue discussing resources and accommodations.
Next steps: the superintendent said staff would re‑engage with the family and administration to explore options; the parent left the meeting asking for clear guidance on where to escalate concerns if the district is unwilling to pursue in‑district accommodations.
