5 Fired After Autistic Girl Allegedly Bound With Tape In Barnegat

BARNEGAT, NJ — A teacher and four paraprofessionals have been fired from the Barnegat Township School District after a local mother said her nonverbal, autistic 8-year-old daughter had her wrists, ankles and mouth bound with tape while at school in the district's Academics, Communication, and Essential Skills (ACES) program.

The district's director of special services was also removed from his role, with Superintendent Brian Latwis to take over.

The girl's mom, Kasi Spinelli, said that the binding with tape happened on "more than one occasion," as photos of her being taped up showed her in different outfits. Spinelli shared the details in a YouTube interview with her legal team at Montgomery Law Group.

"I was told it was a joke and not used for restraint purposes," Spinelli said. She said she was told it was her daughter's one-to-one paraprofessional who bound her and took the photo.

District officials told Patch they took action immediately upon the incident being reported, with the five staff involved being suspended right away.

"I would like to thank the individual who was not part of that classroom that came forward and brought these allegations to light," Latwis said at the special Board of Education meeting where the involved staff were fired. "That takes bravery, courage and was clearly doing the right thing."

Police Chief Jason Carroll confirmed to Patch that the district contacted the department on March 31 regarding the incident at Brackman Middle School, where the ACES program is housed.

"After initial investigation, it was determined that there was nothing that occurred necessitating criminal charges and the personnel matter was referred back the school district," Carroll told Patch.

But it doesn't seem to be an isolated incident, and other parents are demanding change.

"I was told that another student had to be interviewed as well for this," Spinelli said.

Another parent reached out to Patch, sharing that she pulled her autistic son out of the Barnegat Township School District after his treatment. Other parents shared their stories at Wednesday's two-hour long Board of Education meeting.

Spinelli's attorney, Bradley Flynn, said he would be pursuing legal action against the district.

"We're seeking justice on behalf of this family, and that's going to take the form of monetary relief, but it's also going to take the form of a new, safe, loving learning environment for the child, where she will be safe from this type of harm and abuse," Flynn said.

Spinelli said the incident has completely changed her daughter.

"Our world is completely rocked," she said. "She can't come home and tell me how her day is. The most I can get out of her is a thumbs up or a thumbs down."

Since her daughter is nonverbal, a visibly emotional Spinelli said she had to take her to the emergency room to get a sexual abuse scan done, as she was unable to tell her about the incident.

"That was probably the hardest thing I've ever done" Spinelli said.