Mom and Son Sue Greensburg Salem District Over Discrimination Claims
A mother and her son are suing the Greensburg Salem School District, alleging discrimination and mistreatment in a special education classroom
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Discrimination, Lawsuit, Special Education, Child Abuse
Greensburg: A mother and her son have taken legal action against the Greensburg Salem School District. They filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the school mistreated the boy in a special education classroom.
The mom says she noticed changes in her 8-year-old son’s behavior last fall. She reached out to the school at Robert F. Nicely Elementary, but they didn’t look into her concerns about how he was being treated.
Things got serious when six people were charged by local police for mistreating three kids at the school. The kids involved were aged 6 to 8. The district has since removed the staff members involved.
Sadly, the boy in the lawsuit has been diagnosed with a trauma and stress disorder. The school district hasn’t commented on the situation yet.
The lawsuit claims the district didn’t train its staff properly on how to handle kids or report suspected abuse. The family is seeking compensation for discrimination and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Two of the charged individuals were a special education teacher and an aide. They allegedly used lemon juice and soap on one child and restrained several kids with mats.
In court, a trial date was tentatively set for June. Four other contracted employees are also facing charges and are waiting for their hearings.
It’s a tough situation, and the police noted that the other staff members didn’t report what they saw. This case is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Renatta Signorini, a reporter for TribLive, has been covering this story and can be reached for more details.