Flagler County

Flagler assistant principal under fire over use of ‘spit sock’ on 9-year-old student

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Body camera video shows the moments leading up to the decision to put a mesh bag over the 9-year-old boy’s head in Flagler County.

Officials with the Flagler County school district said the so called “spit sock” put over this boy’s head should not have been used.

Officials said the decision to use the spit sock at Belle Terre Elementary School does not fall in line with the district’s safety plan.

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Body camera video from a Flagler County school resource deputy shows staff at the school trying to calm a visibly upset 9-year-old student during morning drop-off.

The district said the third grader has been hospitalized in the past for behavioral issues.

On this February morning, his grandmother asked school staff for help getting him to calm down.

A report claims the boy screamed while also biting, kicking and spitting as they brought him inside the school.

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Assistant principal Katrina Feola headed the efforts to get the boy out.

They took the boy into a “wellness” room and from there the video was redacted, but you could hear the volunteer ask for a spit sock.

It’s a mesh bag to cover someone’s head to stop them from spitting or biting.

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Video shows a school resource officer went to get one from his car and brought it back to the room.

The district said Feola was in charge and was given what was called a verbal warning reduced to writing, her first disciplinary measure received in 19 years.

See the full report in the video above.

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