FRANKLIN COUNTY, N.Y. (WRGB) — An investigation from Bond Schoeneck & King Attorneys into the use of “time-out boxes” in a school district’s elementary programs found no evidence of child abuse, corporal punishment, restraint or other unlawful and intentional mistreatment, but did identify “numerous regulatory compliance violations” tied to how the spaces were used and documented.
The findings were presented March 11, 2026, by attorney Kate I. Reid of Bond Schoeneck & King.
Public concern was initially raised Dec. 16, 2025, and the Board of Education learned the boxes existed Dec. 17, 2025. Bond Schoeneck & King was retained Jan. 16, 2026, to conduct what the firm described as a “thorough and independent investigation” focused on understanding how and why the boxes were used, accountability recommendations, and recommendations aimed at healing and rebuilding community trust. For Attorney Greg Rinckey, who represents the family of the boy allegedly placed in one of the boxes, the whole situation was shocking.
“A very alarming and concerning case. It’s hard to believe that something like this is still going on in New York State,” Rinckey said.
Between Jan. 26, 2026, and Feb. 26, 2026, the firm conducted 43 interviews of first-hand witnesses and met with members of the Tribal Council. Investigators also reviewed thousands of pages of records, including Board of Education policies on restraint, time out and seclusion; individualized education plans for the children involved; behavior data and tracking sheets; parent communications; restraint and seclusion paperwork; internal district emails related to the boxes; training documentation; photos and installation-related documents such as work orders; and personnel files of key personnel and administrators.
The executive summary said two time-out boxes were used in November and December 2025 at Salmon River Elementary. The report found “no evidence of corporal punishment, restraint, or abuse” there, but did find “numerous regulatory compliance violations.” It also found one time-out box was installed in a classroom at St. Regis Mohawk School but was never used. Rinckey, saying the firm has no authority to claim no criminal behavior.
“Tribal police are still investigating, and I believe New York State authorities are still investigating, so that’s not for the other law firm to decide as to whether or not criminal behavior took place; that’s for law enforcement to decide.”
At Salmon River Elementary, the report said the district’s behaviorist recommended installing boxes made of plywood and lined with wrestling pads as a “calming down” space for two specific students with IEPs, describing both students as having a history of being violent and aggressive toward staff and peers. Before the plywood boxes were installed, the behaviorist recommended removing each child to a separate “cubby” area in the classroom constructed out of filing cabinets and/or bookcases. The report said classroom staff were provided a barrier made of PVC piping materials and vinyl, which was used to confine the students in their cubby areas. The solid plywood boxes were then used as behavior interventions between November and December 2025.
At St. Regis Mohawk School, the solid plywood box was installed in early November 2025, but classroom staff were uncomfortable with it and refused to use it, and investigators found no evidence it was ever used at the school.
The report noted that the “primary architect of the interventions at issue in this case, Ms. Frohm, was described as a ‘behaviorist’ by all the individuals whom we interviewed; however, she possesses no qualifications to serve as a behaviorist in a public school setting.”
“The behaviorist that recommended the boxes be built wasn’t even credentialed,” Rinckey said. “Nobody said this was a bad idea. From the principal to the superintendent.”
