A mother in Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit, claiming that her 8-year-old son faced repeated abuse and mistreatment in his special education classroom at Dr. Robert F. Nicely Elementary School in the Greensburg Salem School District. According to the lawsuit, the incidents happened between September and November 2023 and caused lasting trauma to the child, who has autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. The family is seeking $150,000 in damages.
The lawsuit alleges that staff members physically and verbally abused the boy and other children in the classroom. Among the accusations are claims that staff sprayed lemon juice and put soap into children’s mouths and restrained students with soundproofing mats. The child’s mother says her son has since been diagnosed with trauma and stressor-related disorder due to the abuse.
The family’s lawyer, Thomas L. Plaitano, described the situation as deeply troubling. He stated that schools should be safe and nurturing spaces, especially for children with special needs, but in this case, the school failed to protect them. He emphasized the importance of accountability and reform in the school district to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The alleged abuse included tying the boy’s arms to his sides with mats, restraining him, and subjecting him to verbal abuse and intimidation. The lawsuit also claims the boy was forced to witness similar mistreatment of other children, creating a hostile and frightening environment that felt more like a prison than a classroom.
Other parents have spoken out as well. One mother, whose nonverbal child with autism attended the same class, described how the experience affected her son. She shared that he became so distressed he would vomit before even getting on the school bus. “He’s scared of everyone now,” she said. The child’s father added, “I can’t imagine who would hurt a special needs child like this.”
The school district learned of the alleged abuse in late October 2023. Two teachers were removed from the classroom, and parents were notified as police began investigating. District Superintendent Kenneth Bissell expressed sadness and disappointment over the situation, stating that the trust in providing a safe and supportive environment for students had been broken.
Despite these actions, the lawsuit claims the school district ignored warnings from parents about their children’s significant behavioral changes. When the boy’s mother raised concerns directly with the school principal, she was reportedly told to stop communicating with outside staff who had shared information about the classroom. Instead, the principal demanded that all communication go through the school, which the lawsuit alleges had already been ignoring the issue.
The abuse allegedly continued until child protective services and law enforcement stepped in. Several staff members are now facing criminal charges, including child endangerment, simple assault, failure to report, and false imprisonment of a minor. The case has sparked outrage among parents and the community, with calls for transparency and systemic changes in the school district to ensure the safety of all children, especially those with special needs.
