WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)—On Tuesday, we reported a lawsuit that was filed against a school district in Lycoming County.
Thursday, the parents spoke in an exclusive interview with 28/22 News Reporter Connor Coar about how the student is dealing with the lawsuit that he is now apart of.
It came as a shock to Page and Nathaniel Woods, their oldest son coming home from school telling them that he had been hurt at school.
"Because that's supposed to be a place where vulnerable students are going to sit with adults. That's supposed to be safe and follow the instruction of the instructor. That didn't happen," insisted Nathaniel Woods.
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In late May, the Woods' son was in his homeland security program class when he put his head down to rest his head.
According to a federal lawsuit, the teacher, Mr. Richard Caschera saw this and told another student to place smelling salts underneath his nose.
After the child did not react to Caschera's liking, he took to the extreme and had students tie him down to a backboard, according to the lawsuit.
"To be honest, the first emotion was definitely shock. Processing, I could tell my son was also shocked and didn't know, just a little astonished and taken back," said Page Woods.
After months of meetings and the school starting back up, the Woods' son is not the same outgoing child.
"There was so much trepidation in my son. You could see the fear. You could see the anxiety, the uncertainty, the uncomfortably. You could see it in him, but he wasn't going to say, 'oh, I'm scared out my mind to go back to this class'," voiced Nathaniel Woods.
"His biggest concern was like, 'mom, I don't want to be retaliated against. I don't want to be," explained Page Woods.
At the end of the day, the parents want one thing: justice for their son.
We reached back out to the Williamsport Area School District for any additional comment. They still say quote: "We do not comment on pending litigation."
It is important to note that the law firm the Woods' chose specializes in educational law, as well as many other types of law.
