Officials: duct tape incident was an "aberration," "appalling"

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - One teacher and other employees involved in duct taping a Westlake Elementary School special needs student were placed on administrative leave Wednesday.

Eight-year-old Shaylyn Searcy’s ankles and shoes were duct taped Monday when she refused to keep her shoes on in the school. Her parents discovered the tape when they picked her up from the bus stop at 4 p.m. Monday.

According to an MSD of Wayne Township release, the investigation continues into the incident.

The release said the district cannot share specifics of the investigation, including teachers and employees involved.

“There will be discipline, because what happened with this student isn't in line with how we do things here,” said Wayne Township spokesperson Mary Lang.

Lang says the district has had a policy in place on seclusion and restraint in classrooms since July of 2010. They say they’ll now review their policies and go over them with staff.

“This was an aberration what happened to this student. We feel the very best thing we can do is make our staff more aware than ever, what should be done, and what shouldn’t be done,” said Wayne Township spokesperson Mary Lang.

When asked if this indeed was a violation of school policy, Lang replied, “I think you could certainly look at it that way. What happened here is something we don’t condone. It’s something that really appalled us when we heard of it. It does not fit at all with the spirit of what this policy says,” added Lang.

“I’m not too happy they’re most likely going to be at home taking a vacation, but at least they’re not there,” said Nathaniel Searcy, Shaylyn’s father. Searcy says he’s glad the district is addressing the problem. He adds, he’s not happy the employees involved are being paid during their administrative leave, and he’s hoping more is done.

“If there's new laws or new legislation that could be passed, using this, good-  I’m glad for it. This isn't something that should be going on; there's gotta be a way to stop it.”

“I’m glad to see they're still moving forward, they're not just saying this person did it, we've suspended them, this and that. I want them to get to the bottom of it,” added Searcy.

Searcy has suggested adding cameras to special needs classrooms.

School officials say classrooms change, and that would be too costly.

The district has arranged for Shaylyn to attend another school and will help with transportation to that school. School officials also plan to meet with parents about the plan for teaching their child in a special education setting.

Indiana legislators are discussing a bill that would regulate seclusion and restraint in the state's schools. That bill is in currently in committee.