New York's education department has ordered sweeping reforms at the Salmon River Central School District after state investigators determined that staff built and, in some cases, used wooden "time-out" boxes to confine elementary students with disabilities. The revelations, which surfaced last winter when photos spread online, have shaken families across the St. Regis Mohawk reservation and the district's small northern New York towns.
According to a report obtained by NPR, a May 8 compliance order from the New York State Education Department found that at least five elementary-age students with disabilities were placed inside wooden boxes and that parents were not notified, which violates state rules. The state review also flagged the district's use of seclusion and improper physical restraints and directed Salmon River to submit a corrective plan.
Investigation Found Boxes Were Used And Rules Broken
An outside review hired by the district concluded that two plywood "calming stations" were used in November and December 2025 and identified multiple regulatory compliance failures, even as the reviewer said there was no evidence of intentional physical abuse. Those findings were presented to the community in March while state and local investigations were still underway, according to NBC5.
Tribal Leaders Say Boxes Reawaken Residential-School Trauma
Parents and tribal leaders have described the boxes as a painful echo of federally funded boarding and residential schools and have pressed for accountability at public meetings. More than half the district’s students are Mohawk, and community members packed board sessions and staged protests after photos and eyewitness accounts circulated, NCPR reported.
Arrests, Lawsuits And Leadership Shake-Ups
The fallout has included personnel changes and legal action: state police say a special-education teacher was arrested on child-endangerment charges tied to alleged separate incidents, and several staff members were placed on administrative leave while authorities continue to investigate. Parents have filed notices of claim and signaled plans to sue, and the district has brought in outside counsel as it searches for stable leadership, according to local station WWNY.
State Order Sets Deadlines; District Promises Change
The May 8 compliance order requires Salmon River to stop seclusion and aversive interventions, strengthen oversight of special-education services, and correct parent-notification and documentation failures. The state review does not itself order mass firings, stating that personnel actions remain a matter of local control, NPR reports.
The district says it has begun implementing reforms, including hiring new special-education leadership, scheduling staff training and shifting to more targeted professional development. Those steps are outlined on the district website and in board presentations, the Salmon River Central School District notes.
Parents and advocates say state oversight is only the first step in rebuilding trust, and they are calling for public apologies, independent monitoring and clearer lines of accountability. The coming weeks will test whether the district's promised fixes and the state's compliance plan translate into lasting change for Akwesasne families and for students with disabilities.
