CLIFTON PARK — State investigators found staff who restrained a Shenendehowa high school student who was left slightly bloodied from the incident lacked proper training in safe restraint techniques as required by law.
On Feb. 27, Jenson Jacob arrived at Shenendehowa High School West to find his 17-year-old son Alex, who is autistic, held face down on the floor as blood dripped from the bridge of his nose. The incident sparked investigations by the New York State Education Department and State Police, which determined no crimes occurred.
The Education Department, which recently concluded its investigation, probed two aspects of the incident: staff training and the school’s record-keeping, according to a copy of the findings obtained by the Times Union. The department ordered the district to train staff who will be working with Alex in physical restraint methods. The state also found the district maintained proper documentation of the February incident.
“The district has plans in place to provide the requisite training per the NYSED ruling, and will continue to ensure ample training for staff throughout the school year,” district spokeswoman Kelly Barclay said. “The emergency interventions were documented in accordance with regulations and engaged to protect both the safety of the student and staff.”
Alex started attending class at Shenendehowa High East after the incident, according to Jacob. The family alleges his prior classroom lacked a full-time teacher for a period of time, a factor contributing to the issues Alex faced in the classroom.
“The two weeks in the new functional program with a new teacher and support staff showed that teaching staff was more important for him, even though qualified competent staff who have undergone TCI (physical restraint) training would have reduced the injuries he suffered,” Jacob said.
Physical restraints are used by some schools…
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