A New York School District Faces Reforms After Controversial Use of Wooden Boxes for Students
Fort Covington, New York – In a shocking revelation, the Salmon River Central School District has come under scrutiny for confining elementary school children, including those with disabilities, in wooden boxes. These practices, which occurred in November and December of 2025, were confirmed by local officials after images spread on social media.
Concern and disbelief swept through the community, particularly affecting the Akwesasne Mohawk children and their families. “It was so unfathomable that our children were seeing these boxes and hearing children screaming in these boxes,” expressed Sarah Konwahahawi Herne, a concerned parent and tribal community member. “I cried, I threw up and I immediately grabbed my laptop and said, What are we going to do?”
The New York State education department has responded by mandating comprehensive reforms within the district. A report obtained by NPR reveals that at least five students were placed in these boxes, referred to as “stations,” for a timeout, without notifying their parents — a clear violation of state regulations.
Despite the severity of the findings, the compliance order plan issued by the state hasn’t been publicly released and does not recommend the dismissal of any involved staff. The education department noted in a statement to NPR that “by law, personnel decisions are a matter of local control.”
The revelation of these practices has stirred echoes of past injustices against Native communities, reminiscent of the historical abuses in government-run residential schools. “For our children to be placed in boxes just as they would have been in residential schools, it was so heartbreaking and disgusting to me,” said Herne.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the district’s actions as “highly disturbing” and initiated a state investigation. Community protests have been ongoing, with parents and leaders demanding accountability and change. The majority of students in the Salmon River district are Mohawk, and the community’s history adds layers of complexity to the situation.
Amid these developments, the district has experienced significant administrative turnover, with multiple interim superintendents resigning. A third interim leader was appointed in March, as the district seeks stability and trust restoration.
Many parents say the controversy echoes a troubling school history
When details of the boxes emerged, the district took steps by placing staff on administrative leave and removing the boxes, initially described as “calming stations.” As the controversy unfolded, parents and tribal leaders highlighted the painful parallels to historical practices.
In a board meeting, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief Michael Conners called the restraint of children “incomprehensible.” T.J. Hathaway, a parent, shared that his 8-year-old son explained the boxes as places to go when “angry or sad,” drawing a link to family history with residential schools.
Community members have expressed frustration that some of those involved in the practice were tribal members, complicating the issue. “The fact that these were our own people working in these schools, hurting our children, allowed this to happen, it was so frustrating, so angering,” said Chrystalynn Jock, a parent and tribal member.
New leadership and questions about healing
Rebecca Stanley has been appointed as the new head of special education, tasked with implementing mandated reforms. “This will be quite the undertaking with the timeline that state education has given us,” Stanley stated.
However, some parents remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these reforms. Herne expressed concern over the lack of a formal apology and the absence of dismissals for those responsible. “I’m not trying to be on a witch hunt, I’m just trying to hold people accountable and make a safer place,” she said.
Comments are closed.