Controversy Unfolds Over Use of Confinement Boxes in New York School District
Fort Covington, New York – A New York school district is under scrutiny after reports surfaced of wooden boxes being used to confine elementary students with disabilities. This practice, which included Native children from the Akwesasne Mohawk community, has caused outrage and led to demands for reforms.
Parent and tribal member Sarah Konwahahawi Herne expressed her distress upon hearing the reports. “It was so unfathomable that our children were seeing these boxes and hearing children screaming in these boxes,” she said. “I cried, I threw up and I immediately grabbed my laptop and said, What are we going to do?”
Local officials confirmed that at least two boxes were constructed and used by staff in late 2025. The revelation has rocked the community in Upstate New York, particularly affecting the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation. New York’s state education department has ordered comprehensive reforms following an investigation.
The state’s report, obtained by NPR, found that at least five students were confined in what were termed “wooden box for a timeout.” The term “station” was used as a euphemism by the district for these boxes. The investigation revealed that parents were not informed, breaching state regulations.
The education department emphasized that seclusion, corporal punishment, and aversive interventions should not be used against students. However, the order does not call for the dismissal of staff involved in the practice.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the situation as “highly disturbing” and initiated a state investigation. Protests have continued, with many parents recalling the district’s history and its impact on Native communities.
Historical Echoes and Community Response
Reports of the boxes first surfaced in December on social media, prompting the district to place staff on leave and remove the boxes. The district initially referred to them as “calming stations.” Roughly two-thirds of the district’s students are Mohawk, with one of the boxes reportedly in use at the St. Regis Mohawk Elementary School.
Parents and tribal leaders see parallels with past abuses in government-run residential schools for Native children, which were violent and led to many deaths. The practice in the school district was described by Herne as “heartbreaking and disgusting.”
Leadership Changes and Future Actions
The Salmon River school district has faced significant upheaval, with multiple interim superintendents resigning. A new head of special education, Rebecca Stanley, has been appointed and is tasked with implementing reforms mandated by investigations at both local and state levels.
Stanley has acknowledged the challenge of meeting the state’s timeline for these reforms. While the state’s report remains unreleased, it identifies numerous violations requiring correction, including improper use of seclusion and restraints.
Interim superintendent Ben Barkley assured that “nothing like this will happen in Salmon River again,” committing to full compliance with state directives. However, some parents remain skeptical, with calls for a formal apology and accountability for those involved.
Herne, reflecting the sentiment of many parents, stated, “I’m not trying to be on a witch hunt, I’m just trying to hold people accountable and make a safer place. If they have to stand up and admit they were wrong, that’s what they need to do. That helps us all heal.”
