Kansas
Lawsuit: Kansas school employee locked teen with Down syndrome in closet, storage cage
An employee of a rural Kansas school district repeatedly shoved a teenager with Down syndrome into a utility closet, hit the boy and once photographed him locked in a cage used to store athletic equipment, a lawsuit claims.
The suit filed Friday in federal court said the paraprofessional assigned to the 15-year-old sent the photo to staff in the Kaw Valley district, comparing the teen to an animal and “making light of his serious, demeaning and discriminatory conduct.”
The teen’s parents alleged in the suit that the paraprofessional did not have a key to the cage and had to enlist help from other district staff to open the door and release their son, who is identified in the complaint only by his initials. The suit, which includes the photo, said it was not clear how long the teen was locked in the cage.
The lawsuit names the paraprofessional, other special education staff and the district, which enrolls around 1,100 and is based in St. Marys, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Topeka.
No attorneys are listed for the district in online court records and phone messages and emails left with district staff were not immediately returned.
The suit said the teen’s placement in the closet and cage stemmed from “no behaviors whatsoever, or for minor behaviors” that stemmed from his disability.
The paraprofessional also is accused in the suit of yelling derogatory words within inches of the teen’s face on a daily basis and pulling and yanking the teen by the shirt collar around the school at least once a week.
At least once, the paraprofessional struck the teen in the neck and face, the suit said. The teen who speaks in short, abbreviated sentences, described the incident using the words “hit,” “closet” and the paraprofessional’s first name.
The suit said the paraprofessional also made the teen stay in soiled clothing for long periods and denied him food during lunchtime.
The suit said some staff expressed concerns to the special education teacher who oversaw the paraprofessional, as well as the district’s special education director. But the suit said neither of them intervened, even though there had been other complaints about the paraprofessional’s treatment of disabled students in the past.
The suit said the defendants described their treatment of the teen as “tough love” and “how you have to handle him.”
The suit said the director instructed subordinates not to report their concerns to the state child welfare agency. However, when the parents raised concerns, a district employee reported them to the agency, citing abuse and neglect concerns, the suit said.
No criminal charges are listed in online court records for the paraprofessional or any of the employees named in the suit. And no disciplinary actions are listed for staff in a state education department database.
The suit said the teen’s behavior deteriorated. The suit said he refuses to leave his home out of fear, quit using his words and increasingly punches himself in the head.
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A new mural under the Kansas Avenue Memorial Bridge will be unveiled Thursday afternoon in North Topeka.
A ceremony celebrating the mural will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2 under the bridge near Veterans Park, 131 N.E. Laurent St.
The finished mural, titled “Reflections of North Topeka,” is the culmination of a project that brought together artists, students, volunteers, local leaders and community members to create a lasting tribute to the history and spirit of North Topeka.
“Over the past several months, the bridge has been transformed into a vibrant outdoor gallery that tells the story of our community,” organizers said in a news release. “From the area’s Indigenous roots and the Kaw Nation to the development of Eugene, the growth of North Topeka, and the revitalization of today’s NOTO Arts & Entertainment District, the mural celebrates the people, places, and events that shaped our community.
“What makes this mural truly special is the community behind it. More than 90 volunteers helped paint this project, proving that when people come together with a shared vision, incredible things can happen.”
The celebration will include:
- The official unveiling of the completed mural
- A brief program with remarks from the mural team
- A ceremonial ribbon cutting
- An opportunity to meet the artists and learn about the stories behind the artwork
- Complimentary refreshments
Led by Project Manager and NOTO Arts Administrator Staci Schnacker, lead artist Zandra Sneed-Dawkins, and supporting artists DeAna Morrison, Jordan E. Brooks, and Pradeep K. Bangalore, “this mural is more than public art,” organizers said — “it’s a celebration of the people, places, and history that make North Topeka unique.
This project was supported in part through the National Endowment for the Arts, ArtsConnect Topeka, the City of Topeka, Shawnee County Parks + Recreation, and many other community partners, businesses, artists, and volunteers.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas State Fair says Saturday, Sept. 19, will be a hard-hitting night of rock ‘n’ roll, with a three-band lineup for this year’s Rock Fest at the Fair.
From Ashes to New will share the Kansas Star Casino Grandstand with Saliva and Saving Abel. The concert kicks off at 6:30 p.m.
From Ashes to New
Blending hard rock, hip-hop, electronic and alternative rock, Ashes to New has built a loyal fan base with songs like “Barely Breathing,” “Die For You” and “Drag Me,” with the latter reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Charts in May. “Die For You” was used to launch an anti-bullying campaign in 2018.
Saliva
Saliva saw its first taste of mainstream success with 2001’s “Every Six Seconds,” which featured its breakout hit “Click Click Boom” and “Your Disease,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. The band has continued forward since the 2021 death of founding guitarist Wayne Swinny, with Bobby Amaru as frontman.
Saving Abel
Southern rockers Saving Abel launched in a Memphis suburb in 2004. The band’s multiplatinum hit “Addicted,” from its 2008 self-titled album, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Reserved tickets go on sale starting Thursday starting at $45 for the grandstand and up to $415 for a VIP reserved table for six that includes two drink tickets, complimentary appetizers before the show and early entrance.
You can find full details at kansasstatefair.gov or call 620-669-3618.
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