03-10-2006, 08:22 PM
Police are investigating whether an autistic, hyperactive 10-year-old boy was put in a dark closet at a Pueblo elementary school as a disciplinary measure.
"I found my son being held in the closet against his will in the classroom," said the boy's mother, Veronica Hijar. "There were four para-pros -- they're behavior coaches -- present in the room and no students. One of them was holding the door on (her son, who) was hollering."
She said she was told her son was put in the closet because he wouldn't behave and they didn't want other students at Highland Park Elementary to pick up bad habits.
"When I walked in (a coach) said, 'What are you doing here this early?"' she said.
Stephanie Garcia, a school board member, said she met with school and board officials about the March 1 incident.
"We addressed the situation and (the closet) was not an appropriate place for him," she said. Garcia said the school will consult with an expert on autistic behavior to develop an education plan for the boy.
Asked whether there would be discipline, Garcia said administrators were awaiting the results of the police investigation.
From thedenverchannel.com
"I found my son being held in the closet against his will in the classroom," said the boy's mother, Veronica Hijar. "There were four para-pros -- they're behavior coaches -- present in the room and no students. One of them was holding the door on (her son, who) was hollering."
She said she was told her son was put in the closet because he wouldn't behave and they didn't want other students at Highland Park Elementary to pick up bad habits.
"When I walked in (a coach) said, 'What are you doing here this early?"' she said.
Stephanie Garcia, a school board member, said she met with school and board officials about the March 1 incident.
"We addressed the situation and (the closet) was not an appropriate place for him," she said. Garcia said the school will consult with an expert on autistic behavior to develop an education plan for the boy.
Asked whether there would be discipline, Garcia said administrators were awaiting the results of the police investigation.
From thedenverchannel.com