HAVERHILL, Mass. — A 6-year-old boy with autism ended up more than a mile away from school after running away, and now the Department of Children and Families is investigating whether the school is guilty of abuse or neglect.
Like many children with autism, 6-year-old Nathan Perley has a tendency to bolt without warning. Last Monday, the Bradford Elementary School in Haverhill says Nathan ran through a hole in a fence and ended up at a wastewater treatment facility, but because Nathan is non-verbal, he wasn't able to tell his father Jeffrey Perley how he got away or how long he was gone. The school says the hole in the fence was caused by a downed tree.
A treatment worker, who says he recognized the signs that Nathan had autism, was able to grab him before he ended up in the water and a neighbor called 911.
Perley says after talking with the worker, police, and finally, with Nathan's teacher, he believes the school waited to call police.
"She [the teacher] said it took a while to call the cops, almost 20 minutes," said Perley.
Haverhill's superintendent wouldn't go on camera, but told Boston 25 News it was when teachers were counting kids at the end of recess that they noticed Nathan was missing, but first they checked bathrooms where they believed he may have been before calling 911.
Superintendent Margaret Marotta told us:
"As the school staff was on the phone with 911, other staff members searched the school and the neighborhood on foot and by car. While the school was on the phone reporting the missing child to 911 – the dispatcher told them the child was located... The initial call from the neighbor came in at 1:28 and the 911 call from the school occurred at 1:36."
The school, however, is more than a 20-minute walk from the plant where the neighbor spotted Nathan, so that would mean he went missing around 1 p.m., but the school didn't call police until 1:36 p.m. The school district contests that estimate and says it's more like a 13-minute walk.
A police report also says while police were talking to the people who had already found Nathan, an officer was sent to the school for a report of a missing child.
DCF has filed a 51A, a complaint of abuse or neglect, against the school.
Nathan's dad says it's very likely his son would have drowned if it wasn't for the worker who caught him.
For now, Perley says he's keeping Nathan out of school and DCF is still investigating.
Marrotta also told Boston 25 News:
"Recess started about 1:00. My understanding is that he was seen during recess, and was reported to have returned to the school to use the restrooms. When he did not line up with his class the restroom was checked, he was not there and 911 was called. The police have the time stamp on the call at 1:36…. In either event this is very concerning. We are aware of our obligation to our students, particularly to the safety and well being of our most vulnerable students. The special education director and the principal have been working with staff on reviewing safety protocols and emergency procedures."
The school district also supplied Boston 25 News with a copy of the school district's “The Steps to Take in a Crisis Emergency Procedures Manual.” They said its worth noting that Step 1 is to assess the seriousness of the situation and then Step 2 is to call 911 if appropriate.
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