In Wisconsin, a group of parents has initiated legal action against the Milwaukee Public Schools district, accusing staff of using a boiler room, ominously referred to as “the dungeon,” to intimidate and discipline students. This claim is detailed in a recently filed lawsuit.

The legal document alleges that when questioned by their parents about this so-called “dungeon,” some children became visibly distressed, often bursting into tears due to fear. The lawsuit targets staff at Thurston Woods School, claiming that this harsh form of discipline was implemented during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years.

The complaint further reveals that the fear of “the dungeon” has led to severe repercussions for the students involved, including disrupted sleep patterns, nightmares, and episodes of crying upon waking during the night.

Represented by Milwaukee attorney Drew DeVinney, the concerned parents have pinpointed specific staff members at the pre-K-8 institution who allegedly resorted to sending misbehaving students into the boiler room. Notably, a former male paraprofessional is accused of repeatedly confining three students in this manner.

The lawsuit describes the students being locked in the room with the lights off, leaving them in total darkness. It claims that this confinement was employed as a disciplinary measure, with no means for the students to exit on their own.

Allegedly, the entrance to “the dungeon” is located in a basement-level boiler room, which the school reportedly used for storing chemicals and cleaning supplies. The environment is described as extremely noisy due to the running boiler and considered hazardous because of the presence of chemicals, along with various stored items like buckets, boxes, furnace filters, ladders, boilers, and other equipment.

“[Staffers] would require the students … to remove their shoes once locked inside ‘the dungeon,’” the complaint says. “Locked in the dark, [the students] were subjected to the harsh smells of the chemicals and cleaning products that were stored in the boiler room. Sometimes [the paraprofessional] would use his body as a barricade to the door to ensure the confined student was not able to leave the boiler room.”

After “numerous instances” of confining students to “the dungeon,” Milwaukee Public Schools allegedly undertook an investigation of the incidents and the paraprofessional resigned, according to DeVinney and the parents. He allegedly admitted to placing the children in the boiler room to “punish and frighten them,” per the complaint.

“Thurston Woods School staff failed to intervene [and] prevent children from being confined to the boiler room for punishment, despite having [an] opportunity to do so,” the complaint concludes. “Due to being confined in ‘the dungeon,’ the children … sustained mental and psychological harm, including but not limited to fright, grief, anger, fear, worry, emotional distress and trauma.”

Milwaukee Public Schools could not be reached for comment Sunday by Law&Crime, but the district did offer a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week, saying: “Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to maintaining safe and welcoming learning environments for all students and staff. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, the district thoroughly investigated this matter in 2023 and took appropriate disciplinary action which included termination of employment.”