CONTROVERSY OVER TIME OUT Parents Allege Autistic Son Was Locked In Room
Reported by: Dan Matics
Videographer: Kenney Barnett
Web Producer: Dan Matics
Reported: Oct. 18, 2012 9:36 PM EDT
Updated: Oct. 18, 2012 9:53 PM EDT
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Huntington
, Cabell County
, West Virginia
Strong allegations from two parents who say their special needs child was mistreated at a Cabell County school.
Levi Smith is an autistic student at Huntington High School. His parents are fired up after saying he was locked up inside a room used for "time out."
Anthony Smith, custodial guardian, said on Tuesday, Levi was sent to an in-school suspension class due to behavioral problems. Smith said Levi called them using a cell phone from a small room saying he was locked in due to no door knob inside the room.
Todd Alexander, Cabell County Schools administration, said Levi was sent to the "time out" room, and the inside door knob was broken, but denies the allegation that Levi was locked up.
"They never shut the door to the room," Alexander said. "Regardless, we need to make sure you don't have situations like where a student could be locked up."
Since interviewing school officials, the parents said they were notified that the doors to the "time out" room were removed entirely.
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Dan Matics
