BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

AKWESASNE -- The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council has called on the Salmon River Central School District's Board of Education to declare a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Stanley Harper following a recent revelation of "time-out" boxes being used on special needs students in the district. 

“We strongly urge you to immediately and expeditiously issue a formal declaration of a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Stanley Harper over the recent horrific events, for the health and safety of our Mohawk pupils, and all children attending Salmon River Central schools. We have no faith in District leadership, and the recent actions show gross mismanagement, and overarching, broad operational failures to address student and educator needs,” the letter states.

Parents and community members gathered last night, Dec. 17, to address the Board regarding the construction and use of the box. 

At the meeting parents asked  board members when they first learned of the boxes, if the boxes were used and demanded action.

The answers ranged from two days to several weeks. 

Superintendent Harper responded that there were three boxes built, confirming during the meeting that "only two" were used. 

He told attendees he was aware of the boxes for three weeks before word got out. 

When asked where the boxes were, Harper said he had them taken apart and removed. 

A number of parents voiced their frustrations further, with many saying they were destroying evidence and attempting to eliminate any means to test for DNA evidence. 

While St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police said they are investigating claims that a special needs child was punished with the use of a box, many parents have said that multiple children were punished with the boxes. 

During the Board of Education meeting one board member said the boxes were designed with the intention to be used for "any child, not just special needs kids." 

The comment prompted further outcry from parents who said the boxes amounted to human rights abuses. 

The situation is one that has drawn thousands of comments online, prompting Tribal leaders to issue multiple community notices. 

In one such notice shared on Dec. 16, Tribal leaders urged community members to refrain from using "aggressive or threatening communications" towards staff and students. 

"Tribal Council recognizes that these events can evoke strong emotions. We are requesting cooperation from community members to refrain from aggressive or threatening communications or behavior toward staff and students," they wrote. 

In another post a day prior, Tribal leaders confirmed "multiple investigations are ongoing," writing their updates would be limited so as to allow for the investigations to run their course without "undue influence or interference." 

An agenda shared with North Country This Week shows six resignations listed, including elementary teachers Amanda Lazare, Emma Parent and Natalie McCormick, along with teacher aides Laura Ellison and Laurie Dufrane, along with special education teacher Laura Lester-Armstrong. 

An internal email from Harper to staff members shortly after the news broke earlier this week was also shared with North Country This Week. 

In the email, Harper told staff members to say they "have to speak with administrators" if they are confronted regarding "the situation from Facebook." 

He went on further telling staff members he was "at the Mohawk school now and Mr. Gravell will be as well this morning." 

"We will be fine," he wrote. 

Rumors have also swirled regarding the involvement of the state Department of Education and a potential "restructuring" of district administration as the investigations unfold. 

North Country This Week is attempting to independently verify those claims. 

We will continue to update this story as more details are made available.