School Principal Videotaped Autistic Boy Stuck in Chair

GOODRICH, Mich., Feb. 27 (UPI) —
An elementary school principal in Goodrich, Mich., resigned and a teacher is on administrative leave for videotaping a boy stuck in a chair, officials say.

The incident happened in a fifth grade classroom at Oaktree Elementary in Goodrich in November, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Teacher Nicole McVey allegedly shot a 53-second video with a cellphone of the 10-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome, stuck in the chair. Asperger’s syndrome is a milder form of autism.

The boy was stuck for 10 to 15 minutes.

McVey then allegedly emailed the video to herself, principal Michael Ellis, and several other teachers and friends.

The boy’s mother’s attorney, Patrick Greenfelder, said a bully liaison reported the incident to Superintendent Scott Bogner, who showed the boy’s parents and gave McVey and Ellis the option to resign or be fired.

Ellis has resigned, while McVey is fighting to keep her job.

Some community members have spoken out in favor of McVey being able to keep her job, to the dismay of the boy’s parents.