1.      I'm writing a follow-up article to the article  I wrote about the improper demonstration of a full-body restraint system at Magnolia School in Orange County. I was hoping you could either help me or direct me to the right person for summary and detail reports for the use of restraints in Florida schools this school year.

 -      Please see the two attached files. 

**One file breaks it down by district, Orange County had 1910 incidents involving 244 students.

** I'm inserting the word doc file that summarizes the restraints:

Incidents of Restraint and Seclusion Cumulative Through March 2011

Restraint Incidents Through March 2011,

districts reported

· 8,222 incidents of restraint involving 2,944 students

Distribution of Restraint Incidents by Grade Levels· Grades PK-3: 42%

· Grades 4-8: 40%

· Grades 9-12: 17%

Distribution of Restraint Incidents by Exceptionality

· Emotional/Behavior Disabilities: 46%

· Autism Spectrum Disorders: 22%

· Intellectual Disabilities: 10%

· Specific Learning Disabilities: 5%

· Other Disability: 16%

Seclusion Incidents Through March 2011, districts reported

· 3,386 incidents of seclusion involving 1,047 students

Distribution of Seclusion Incidents by Grade Levels· Grades PK-3: 35%

· Grades 4-8: 47%

· Grades 9-12: 18%

Distribution of Seclusion Incidents by Exceptionality

· Emotional/Behavior Disabilities: 69%

· Autism Spectrum Disorders: 10%

· Intellectual Disabilities: 11%

· Specific Learning Disabilities: 2%

· Other Disability: 8%

    2.      Also, I'm interested in what training has been given to faculty and staff who utilize the ultimate restraint system, what safeguards are in place to make sure that students aren't improperly restrained and if their is any video documentation of the classrooms where restraints are used.

 -      Regarding the training that the faculty and staff have received should be directed to the Orange County School District.  Dr. Anna Diaz, is the Associate Superintendent for Exceptional Student Education. Dr. Diaz may be reached at 407/317-3229.

 **I have a follow up request under FOIA into the specific school district.

    3.      Does the state purchase the ultimate restraint system, the district or the individual school?

 -      No. The state does not purchase any restraint systems, nor does the state "purchase" training in crisis management for school district staff. Such purchases would be made by school districts.  

         4.      How many schools in Florida own and use this restraint system that the Sheriffs.org says is "designed for combative/violent psychiatric patients and is in use at various psychiatric care facilities on the U.S. east coast. Currently, the system comes with a stiff board that gives it rigidity.

-      We do not have this information.                

5. Does the state purchase the ultimate restraint system, the district or the individual school? How many schools in Florida own and use this restraint system that the Sheriffs.org says is "designed for combative/violent psychiatric patients and is in use at various psychiatric care facilities on the U.S. east coast. Currently, the system comes with a stiff board that gives it rigidity.

The manufacturer has a new model that was unavailable for review specific to Fire/EMS that can be used with a standard backboard"?

-      We have no information on this.             

 6.      The manufacturer has three standard sizes, with the smallest fitting no shorter than 4'8''; what safeguards are in place in the schools that use these restraints that the student is the appropriate size?

-      If a school district has acquired a specific system, then it would be incumbent on the district to make sure the restraint is being used appropriately.               

 7.      How closely is the state monitoring the restraints and investigating these restraints?

-      Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, school districts have been reporting data regarding the use of seclusion and restraint. The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) has been reviewing this data received throughout the year. Additionally, school districts provided BEESS with copies of their policies and procedures related to incident reporting procedures, data collection, monitoring and reporting of data collected. Lastly, we have begun to field test on-site monitoring procedures.                 

8.      Does the state keep statistics on how often the ultimate restraint system is used, for how long, if it was used appropriately, and for what reasons it's used?

-      The Bureau receives information on the type, duration of the restraint, and the student’s behavior leading up to and precipitating the use of restraint. Because type of restraint is currently a text box, we are unable to aggregate and report data on the specific types of restraint used.  

I also spoke to John Gillen, the head of the company who makes the restraints, and he does not provide training or guidelines for the use of the restraints. He sells the ultimate restraint for face-up use, but acknowledges that institutions may and do use the restraint face-down with violent clients to protect the staff and the client from the client's aggression. He does not make the ultimate restraint smaller than the 4'8" size, but notes that the wraps are meshed nylon and that the top restraint does not have to be fastened.

After nearly two weeks of looking into this story and trying to find satisfactory answers that the device, when used, is being used correctly, I am left with no assurance that this is the case. The school system did not respond to my specific questions and the vague promise that guidelines are being followed is a cold comfort in light of the video demonstration that the school system had to know would be scrutinized. If they can’t acknowledge that they did nothing short of screw the pooch with that demonstration, then why should parents feel confident that when they do decide restraint is appropriate that their child is placed in the device properly and that appropriately supervised.

If the video demonstration is indeed how they’re using the device, then every parent of a child at Magnolia School should be seriously concerned about their child’s safety. With no consistent guidelines, no statewide supervision of the types of restraints purchased and the training provided, there's a definite problem of oversight and accountability.