HONOLULU — Hawaii has agreed to settle three lawsuits from parents who said their special-needs children were abused by workers at an elementary school.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Thursday that the federal lawsuit alleged that the 7- and 8-year-old girls were disciplined forcefully, force-fed and physically restrained while at Kipapa Elementary School.
Lawyers on both sides declined comment to the newspaper. The parties told the court that a settlement was reached.
The lawsuits say the girls were denied proper special education services. They accused the school’s principal of failing to intervene. The lawsuits also named a special education teacher and an educational aide, along with Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi.
The department did not respond to a message seeking comment from the newspaper.