Hochul Scrambles After 'Timeout Box' Scandal Explodes in New York Schools

The discovery of wooden “timeout” boxes inside two elementary schools in the Salmon River Central School District has prompted an intense statewide backlash, culminating in a call for immediate intervention from Governor Kathy Hochul. After photos of the enclosed wooden structures circulated on Facebook last week, the governor urged the state Education Department to move quickly, saying, “swift action to investigate and rectify this situation” was necessary.

Hochul described the situation as deeply troubling, stating, “The reporting coming out of the Salmon River Central School District is highly disturbing and raises serious questions regarding the safety of children at this school.” She emphasized the responsibility schools have to protect children, adding, “As a mom, I know firsthand the trust parents place in our schools, and the teachers and administrators who work with our children. School should be a place where every child is safe, respected and supported.”

However, Hochul could not explain how such conduct was permitted to occur undetected under her leadership.

The wooden structures in question measured roughly five feet high and three feet wide. They were lined with padding inside. Although the district had never previously addressed their presence, administrators acknowledged earlier this week that the boxes had been located at two elementary schools. Parents later said that after speaking with their children, they believed some students — including autistic and non-verbal children — had been placed inside them. The district has since stated the boxes have been removed and dismantled.

The state Education Department, which operates independently from the governor’s office, contacted Salmon River on Wednesday and ordered the district to immediately stop any practice that involved restraining or isolating students, including placing them in the boxes. A letter sent to the district said state officials would visit this week “to confirm the removal of all boxes,” and would return again “to ensure alternative calming spaces are identified for students that comply with state regulations.” Local law enforcement is also believed to be reviewing the matter.

At least one parent has filed a criminal complaint.

The district’s response has ignited the controversy further. School board members said they were unaware the boxes existed until photos spread online. The superintendent, Stanley Harper, originally acknowledged only one box and insisted it had never been used with students. During a school board meeting the following night, however, he conceded there were three and admitted he had learned about them only weeks earlier.

That meeting drew an angry crowd demanding answers and accountability. For more than an hour, parents and community members described what their children had told them and recounted other alleged examples of mistreatment. The board placed Harper on “home duties” while an outside law firm conducts a review. The district's special education director, an elementary principal, and a teacher were also put on administrative leave. Remote learning was instituted Thursday and Friday “to ensure the safety of students and staff.” Classes are scheduled to resume in January.

The demographic makeup of the district has heightened concerns. About 60 percent of students are Native American and one of the schools where the boxes were allegedly used is located on the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Reservation. Speakers at the meeting said the images evoked historical trauma tied to the abuses inflicted at Native residential and day schools.

In a statement, board president Jason Brockway said, “The Board of Education extends its sincere apology to our students, families, and community members who have been deeply affected by the ongoing situation. We understand that for many in our community this incident has reopened historical wounds and trauma connected to the mistreatment of Native (American) children. We hear you. We are humbled by the public response, and we feel the pain and fear expressed by our community.”

The photos that ignited the investigation were posted by former board member Chrissy Jacobs who received them from another source. During the board meeting, she demanded consequences for anyone who authorized the boxes or failed to speak up, telling officials, “You treated our kids like animals.”

New York regulations allow “timeout” only when children are placed in open, unlocked spaces where they can move, recline, and be visually monitored. Timeout can be used only as a last resort to prevent immediate harm or as a planned intervention outlined in a student’s behavior plan. The state explicitly bans “seclusion,” meaning the practice of placing a student alone in a locked or enclosed room.

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Hochul Scrambles After 'Timeout Box' Scandal Explodes in New York Schools