One of the teacher’s aides at a Northeast Ohio middle school allegedly stapled a note to a student’s head, local reports show.
It happened because of a water bottle.
The student's mother filed a report with Boardman police last month, telling officers that her son, who has autism, was “shook up” after the incident in class on January 19. She filed the report the following day, WKBN reported Tuesday (February 9).
The aide is accused of trying to staple a note — which was intended to remind the boy to bring a water bottle to school from home — to the boy’s hair. But according to his mother, the staple punctured her son’s skin at the back of his neck and left a mark, according to WKBN.
The aide has more than 20 years of experience, according to WFMJ.
Superintendent Tim Saxton “downplayed” the incident, according to a Lyndhurst attorney representing the boy's mother.
"Obviously, this is not how we expect students to be treated and this does not represent what we believe in," Saxton said. The superintendent confirmed that the aide received a letter of reprimand, according to WFMJ.
The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office advised against charges. But the student's mother retained an attorney, Aimee E. Gilman, who said in a statement:
"The child did suffer injuries, both physical and mental, and did receive medical treatment for the incident. Although Mr. Saxton stated that this aide has a ‘clean’ record, he neglected to mention that this lady’s behavior has been the subject of multiple complaints by [the student's mother]."
Here’s what Amy Radinovic, the school district’s spokesperson, previously said of the incident, according to WKBN:
"The Boardman local schools based its decision on the facts as presented by our own investigation, as well as the investigation of the Boardman police and members of the local prosecutor’s office."
Radinovic declined to comment further to WFMJ, citing "pending litigation." Boardman police also declined to comment.
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