Parents Flee Special Education Program After Taping Scandal

Trust in a once-lauded New Jersey special education program is crumbling after allegations that an 8-year-old nonverbal girl with autism was bound with tape in her classroom, leading to the termination of five staff members and causing some families to withdraw their children entirely. The scandal has exposed what parents describe as systemic issues in Barnegat Township School District’s Academics, Communication, and Essential Skills (ACES) program for children with autism.

“I just can’t trust putting my kid in your possession,” parent Steven Donoghue told the school board during a recent meeting, explaining that his family had specifically moved to Barnegat after hearing about the ACES program. Now, they’ve joined other families reconsidering their children’s placement following the disturbing revelations, according to Asbury Park Press.

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The Incident That Shattered Trust

The allegations center on multiple instances in March when a teacher and four paraprofessionals allegedly used blue painter’s tape to bind the wrists, ankles, and mouth of an 8-year-old girl with autism who cannot speak. The abuse came to light when someone not assigned to the classroom reported the incidents, which had been photographed showing the child in different outfits – suggesting multiple occurrences.

The child’s mother, Kasi Spinelli, was reportedly told by school officials that the taping was “a joke and not used for restraint purposes” and was carried out by her daughter’s one-to-one paraprofessional. The district has since fired all five staff members involved and removed its director of special services from his position.

“Our world is completely rocked,” Spinelli said in a video interview with her attorney. “She can’t come home and tell me how her day is. The most I can get out of her is a thumbs up or thumbs down.”

More Than Just One Victim

Disturbingly, there are indications that the recently exposed case may not be isolated. “I was told that another student had to be interviewed as well for this,” Spinelli revealed, suggesting other children may have been subjected to similar treatment.

Another parent contacted Patch to share that she had previously withdrawn her autistic son from the district due to concerning treatment. During a recent two-hour Board of Education meeting, multiple parents came forward with their own stories, painting a picture of broader issues within the district’s special education services.

“Local parents of children with special needs worry about the lack of resources, inclusion, transparency and respect for our neurodivergent kids,” Elysia Jankowski told the school board. “We’re getting information from each other, from social media, not from the district. And I think that’s a big problem.”

The Administration’s Response Under Scrutiny

School officials have reported the situation to local law enforcement and the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer confirmed that “the investigation into this incident is currently active and ongoing.”

However, the Barnegat Police Department’s initial response has raised eyebrows. Police Chief Jason Carroll told local media that after initial investigation, officers determined “there was nothing that occurred necessitating criminal charges” and referred the matter back to the school district as a personnel issue, according to News 12.

This apparent disconnect between the severity of the allegations and the initial police response has further eroded parent confidence.

Promises Of Reform Amid Legal Action

School Board President Scott Sarno acknowledged community concerns, stating that school officials were “angry, disappointed and upset” by the allegations. Superintendent Brian Latwis promised to re-examine the ACES program and its resources based on parents’ concerns, stating, “We share everybody’s outrage with this incident.”

District officials are also considering significant changes to prevent future incidents, including modifying the teachers’ contract to allow security cameras in classrooms – a measure currently prohibited. Latwis and Sarno announced plans to meet with representatives of the Barnegat teachers’ union to discuss these potential modifications.

Meanwhile, Spinelli’s attorney Bradley Flynn has announced intentions to sue the school district. “We’re seeking justice on behalf of this family, and that’s going to take the form of monetary relief, but it’s also going to take the form of a true, safe, loving environment for the child where she can be safe from this type of harm and abuse,” he said.

The Devastating Impact On A Vulnerable Child

For Spinelli, the most heartbreaking aspect is the impact on her daughter, who cannot communicate what happened to her. The experience forced Spinelli to take extraordinary measures, including having her daughter medically examined for signs of physical and sexual abuse – a process she described as “probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

Spinelli reported that the incident has “completely changed” her daughter, though the full psychological impact may be difficult to assess given the child’s communication challenges.

As investigations continue and the district implements changes, many parents are left wondering whether the ACES program – once a beacon of hope for families with children on the autism spectrum – can ever regain their trust, or if more families will join those who have already decided to seek educational alternatives elsewhere.

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