Cherry Hill School In The Spotlight Following Alleged Verbal Abuse Against Autistic Child
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS) - "Our children do not and should not have to come out every day to find a news van or a police car," said a parent at Horace Mann Elementary in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Horace Mann Elementary in Cherry Hill, New Jersey hasn't been the same since the father of a 10-year-old boy with autism, released audio of school officials harassing his son.
Stuart Chaifetz stuck a recording device in his son's pocket in February because he felt his son Akian was being mistreated in school.
When he listened to the 6 and a half hours worth of sound, he was shocked.
Last Monday, he used YouTube to share some of the disturbing audio clips of adults yelling at and talking down to his son.
Akian's teacher is still employed with the district. Pat Gesualdo, who heads a nonprofit that advocates for children with special needs was angered by that and he says he independently filed a complaint against the Cherry Hill school District with the Civil Right Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
"The teacher is absolutely responsible," said Gesualdo. "Even if she wasn't in the classroom, and so is the principal, and for that matter, so is the teacher's union. That's pretty much how we feel and that's why we're calling for everybody's resignation involved."
The classroom where the verbal abuse took place was that of special education teacher Kelly Altenburg. Her attorney said Friday, Altenburg's voice was not on the recording and he says his client was in a morning meeting when those inappropriate comments were made.
When CBS 3 reached out to Altenburg's attorney Monday to request an interview with Altenburg, her attorney declined.
The school district maintains the people involved have either been let go, or are currently on leave.
