School Committee Votes 5-0 for New Liaison Post
The Amherst School Committee voted 5-0 to create a new multilingual education liaison position and heard an independent investigator clear the district on restraint and seclusion practices, though several parents said their cases were left out.
School Committee · Meeting of August 20, 2026
AMHERST — The Amherst School Committee voted 5-0 to create a new multilingual education liaison position and heard an independent investigator clear the district on restraint and seclusion practices, though several parents said their cases were left out. Attorney Jeffrey Sankey reported 63 restraints across Fort River and Wildwood elementary schools in 2024-25 and told the committee the district was "in compliance with the regulations." Parent Carolina Davis said of her restrained child, "no one ever investigated our story." Member Bridget pressed Sankey on students restrained repeatedly, saying it "starts to really concern me." Members also toured the new Amethyst Brook Elementary School, where seven padded rooms, once called "blue rooms," will be rebranded "sensory spaces."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,753 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of August 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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