Parents Are Outraged After Learning That St. Regis Mohawk School in Akwesasne Allegedly Used Wooden Timeout Boxes for Special Needs Students
AKWEASNE, NEW YORK (January 8, 2026) – Staff at St. Regis Mohawk School are accused of using wooden boxes as a form of punishment for the special needs students in their care.
Franklin County officials are saying that an investigation into the incident began after pictures of a wooden box began circulating around social media. Chrissy Jacobs has been identified as the person who posted the photos to Facebook.
Lt. Ted Cook has said that the police have begun a probe into the matter. A superintendent for the Salmon River Central School District has said that the ‘device’ was never used on any students.
However, he did not clarify what device he was referring to when pushed by members of the press. For its part, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council said that they intend to take the necessary actions to hold individuals accountable for wrongdoing.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for School Abuse Involving Special Needs Students
Schools have a legal obligation to properly supervise all students in their care. They must protect them from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. Consider, for example, Lawes v Board of Educ., 16 NY2d 302, 306; Decker v Dundee Central School Dist., 4 NY2d 462, 464, “Schools are under a duty to adequately supervise the students in their charge and they will be held liable for foreseeable injuries proximately related to the absence of adequate supervision.” Schools should take several measures to protect students from harm.
- Training: All school employees must receive adequate training. They must be informed what measures of behavior control are acceptable in accordance with state and federal policy.
- Hiring: All school employees should undergo rigorous and comprehensive background checks. The references for each potential hire should be contacted.
- Safe Environment: Schools must maintain reasonably safe premises at all times. This requires that they conduct regular inspections of playgrounds, classrooms, and other areas students congregate.
- Clear Policies: Schools should develop and implement policies that identify what actions are prohibited.
New York’s Education Department prohibits corporal punishment and other techniques designed to cause pain or discomfort. Schools are also prohibited from using seclusion in most situations, though teachers are permitted to use timeout and physical restraint under very specific conditions. If a school uses certain practices to physically or psychologically harm students, that school could be liable for any resulting harm.
Steps to Take After School Abuse in New York
Abuse in schools is far more common than many parents realize. In particular, claims of misconduct involving Department of Education employees in NYC have risen sharply over the past several years. According to the New York Post, “The Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools fielded an all-time record 11,874 complaints of alleged wrongdoing by educators and other school workers and vendors in 2024, but launched probes of just 484 — or 4%, according to its 2024 annual report.” It is important that certain actions are taken after a child has been harmed in New York.
- Medical Treatment: Parents should seek immediate medical treatment for their child if they were injured at school. This will also help create an official record of the incident.
- School Records: All records related to the conduct of school officials should be collected.
- School Policies: Any written policies that a school developed should be gathered and scrutinized. In many instances, schools will violate their own written policies.
- Evidence Preservation: Any evidence related to official misconduct should be sought. This will include any photos of the accident site and potential surveillance footage.
- Legal Review: The parents of any child injured in a school should seek the guidance of a personal injury attorney. An attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Children are already vulnerable to becoming the victims of misconduct. Students with special needs are among the most vulnerable members of our society. Despite this, schools will often fail to implement policies to adequately protect them. When teachers do engage in misconduct, a school may turn a blind eye to what is happening. Parents should understand that they do have legal rights. They are able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Getting Legal Help After School Abuse in New York
We at Richmond Vona extend our best wishes to all of the families who may have been affected by official misconduct at St. Regis Mohawk School in Akwesasne. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. It is deeply concerning that a school in New York would even consider using something that resembles a prison cell as a means of punishment for vulnerable children.
Has your child been harmed while attending St. Regis Mohawk School in Akwesasne? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to support you in any way that we can. We can evaluate the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know how much compensation you may be entitled to. We are committed to helping victims get the support and justice that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 716-500-5678.
