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Parent tells Milton board seclusions fell from 45 to 1; asks whether staff were directed not to restrain students
Summary
A parent told the School District of Milton board that reported seclusions and restraints fell from 45 to 1 at Mel East and urged the board to investigate whether that change reflects fewer incidents or instructions to staff not to restrain students; parent said their child was removed from class about 20 times last year.
A parent spoke during the public-comment period to urge the School District of Milton board to review a sharp drop in seclusions and restraints at Mel East.
The parent said Superintendent Jobin’s report listed a decrease from 45 incidents to one during the past school year and asked whether the administration had directed teachers and paraprofessionals to refrain from restraining upset or uncontrollable students. The parent said that, while the drop in recorded seclusions may appear positive on paper, it had real consequences in classrooms: the parent estimated their own child was forced to leave class about 20 times because of another student’s escalating behavior, sometimes after evacuations, and said classmates had felt unsafe.
The parent praised teachers and paraprofessionals for protecting their child within the constraints they were given but asked the board to review whether the decline represented a true reduction in incidents or a change in reporting or practice. No administration response disputing or clarifying the claim was recorded in the transcript before the meeting moved on to the published highlights.
The issue touches on student safety, classroom management, and parent notification practices. The board did not take action on the comment at the meeting but the parent’s testimony requests further district review and clarity on reporting and notification policies.
