A couple says they are still searching for answers after their nonverbal autistic son was pulled off a school bus by a paraeducator and, in a separate incident, found running barefoot off campus near a lake and a busy road. Jordan and Alexander Rodriguez say the back-to-back safety failures at Beachwood Elementary School have left them questioning whether Clover Park School District can keep their son, Henry, safe.
The first incident came to light after the Rodriguez family requested video from the district showing a paraeducator pulling Henry off the bus, according to KING 5. Henry came home with bruises after the encounter, the station reports. Alexander Rodriguez said he was still crying after watching the footage, describing it as the fourth time he had seen it.
A Second Scare Near the Water
In a separate safety incident, Henry left school grounds and was later found running barefoot outside by his father, per the same account. Jordan Rodriguez said the school sits near a lake, a busy road, and housing, and that Henry could have been taken or hit by a car. The family now has questions about how the school supervises Henry and prevents similar situations from happening again.
Because Henry is nonverbal, he cannot tell his parents what happens during the school day. One parent said they have to speak for him. The risk is not abstract: research cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows nearly 49% of children with autism attempt to wander or elope from safe environments after age 4, a rate roughly four times higher than their non-autistic siblings. The National Autism Association says drowning accounted for 91% of U.S. wandering fatalities in 2024.
District's Response and Discipline
Clover Park School District gave the paraeducator involved in the bus incident a one-day suspension and transferred them to another school, the district said in a letter, adding that the interaction with a student must not happen again. The district told the station it is committed to student safety and well-being, including for military-connected families, and that it promptly reviews student safety concerns and takes appropriate action consistent with law, policy, procedure, and collective bargaining agreements.
The district said special education students receive individualized education programs tailored to their needs, and that staff implementing those services are trained in positive behavioral interventions and supports, de-escalation, and safe physical intervention. Schools follow procedures to account for students throughout the day, the district said, and staff respond when a student cannot be located by notifying families and, when appropriate, law enforcement. The district cited student privacy laws, personnel confidentiality, and pending legal claims as reasons it could not share more details, and it encouraged families with concerns to contact their school principal or the district.
What Washington Law Requires
Washington state law under RCW 28A.600.485 bars public school staff from physically restraining or isolating a student unless it is reasonably necessary to control spontaneous behavior that poses an imminent likelihood of serious harm to the student or others.
Separately, state special education rules under WAC 392-172A require districts to verbally notify parents by the end of the business day whenever a student is physically restrained, followed by written notification postmarked within five business days. The 2005 Washington Supreme Court ruling in Vallandigham v. Clover Park School District set the legal standard for holding the district liable in cases involving special education students, requiring evidence of deliberate intention or actual knowledge of certain harm.
A Tort Claim and the Road Ahead
The Rodriguez family has filed a tort claim against Clover Park School District over the bus incident, their attorney told KING 5. Under RCW 4.96.020, anyone seeking damages from a public school district or local government must file a formal tort claim notice and wait 60 days before filing a civil lawsuit. Filing the claim is generally a required step before suing a government entity, but it does not establish liability and does not mean a lawsuit has been filed.
The family weighed Henry's safety against the importance of a consistent routine for autistic children before deciding whether to send him back to school, and Alexander Rodriguez said the family nearly chose not to. A consistent routine is considered important for helping autistic children feel comfortable. The Rodriguez family continues to seek answers about both incidents and what measures will be put in place to protect Henry going forward.
A School Built for Military Families
Beachwood Elementary sits at 8890 Concord Avenue on JBLM Lewis North and serves roughly 400 to 450 students in Pre-K through 5th grade, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16 to 1, according to Niche. The school is associated with Clover Park School District. Clover Park School District has emphasized student safety, including for military-connected families.
The incidents have raised questions about school supervision of nonverbal autistic students.
