Williston Basin School District #7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Published – April 24, 2024
Williston Basin School District #7 has been under heavy criticism following an Institutional Child Protection Services (ICPS) assessment for the abuse of 12 special education students at Wilkinson Elementary School.
According to the press release, after reviewing four days of classroom footage, the specific infractions involved students who were observed being compliant toward staff and not physically acting out. It goes on to state:
“Students can be placed into the quiet room and the door then locked, staff members leaning against the door holding it shut with their backs, placing a chair in front of the door, and sitting on it with their backs to the students in the quiet room, turning the lights off in the quiet room, and slapping on the door with their hands.”
The same staff members were also observed being on their phones and denying students the special education resources that they needed.
The Wilkinson principal, Jeremy Brenner, as stated in the Wilkinson Investigation & Assessment Reports:
“Likely violated his obligations as a mandatory reporter under [Century Code] when he failed to promptly report suspected child abuse relating to the concerns and complaints received from parents and building staff regarding [Special Education Teacher’s] physical interactions with students.”
Additionally, the report found the principal responsible for allowing excessive amounts of time for student seclusion, lack of supervision in the sensory room, and use of mechanical restraints through holding doors shut and slide-locks.
On one occasion, a paraprofessional reached out to Mr. Brenner to share her concerns about a special education teacher named Ms. Hurley. The paraprofessional showed Brenner a video of Hurley grabbing a student and said she believed Hurley was “too rough with students and was handling students in an inappropriate manner.” Around this time, the parent of the student in the video contacted Brenner regarding bruises and marks found on the child. The parent provided pictures and said they were concerned the injuries may have come from Hurley.
According to the final investigation report, Mr. Brenner believes he spoke to Hurley about the incident. However, he did not report his concerns to district officials at the time because he did not feel he had enough “credit information to warrant immediate action.”
All in all, seven staff members have been placed on administrative leave or terminated since the investigation began, including the HEART room SPED teacher, the Wilkinson Elementary principal, and five paraprofessionals.
Williston Basin School District #7 is located in Williston, North Dakota and oversees 13 schools with approximately 5,143 students.
