Report details alleged abuse inside special needs classroom in the Central Bucks School District

but the big story on Action News tonight is the sickening allegations of abuse in a Bucks County school and the findings that administrators failed to fully report it The superintendent of the Central Buck School District has been put on leave tonight accused of misleading police and parents about the reported abuse which an independent investigation says unfolded in a special education classroom Now according to an advocacy group for students with disabilities a teacher and an aid at Jameson Elementary subjected students with autism to repeated and horrific abuse including the use of illegal restraints Action News reporter Annie McCormack live outside the district headquarters in Doylestown tonight Annie you spoke to a school board member who says his child was among the victims Yeah and Brian you'll hear from him in a moment The recommendations from this investigation include disciplinary action and also training Now the district attorney's office said in part in a statement that they do not believe that this was a criminal matter And today the Warwick Township Police Department issued a statement stating that they thoroughly investigated this along with the district attorney's office But parents think that more needs to be done These are children that don't have a voice that aren't able to defend themselves outraged during the Central Bucks School Board meeting last night Dr Yanni was placed on administrative leave as of 5:00 PM this evening Superintendent Dr Steven Yanni was placed on leave after the release of an independent three-monthlong investigation by Disability Rights Pennsylvania The report accuses Yanni and several other administrators of misleading police and parents about child abuse allegations at Jameson Elementary School That's the key takeaway He didn't provide details Police weren't given all the details Parents weren't told of what was going on in this classroom The superintendent was aware of the horror that you see outlined in that DRP report James Pepper is on the school board and a practicing attorney He says the report outlines abuse his then 8-year-old non-verbal autistic son endured He submitted a childline report saying that the my son was spoken to inappropriately and pushed and shoved but that both allegations were unfounded Now when you look at the DRP report there's a heck of a lot more in there than that The report states students were restrained water intake was restricted a student was found naked inside the classroom and there was physical punishment The alleged abuse occurred between September to December of 2024 A teacher and aid at the school allegedly abused four students from kindergarten through 2 grade in an autism support classroom A report through Childline was made in January of 2025 but a whistleblower came forward in November of last year I have asked repeatedly for the police to go back and take a closer look at this The district attorney's office has refused Now a spokesperson with the school district did release a statement when we asked if they had any comments saying that they are going to carefully review the 73page report before making a comment separately Brian there is an independent investigation that was approved by the school board that is still ongoing We did reach out to the superintendent and did not hear back For now reporting live in Doylestown Annie McCormack Channel 6 Action News Brian Okay Annie thank