Parent upset by punishment methods at Fayette County elementary school

A parent of a student in Fayette County Public Schools is expressing concern about punishments at Liberty Elementary in Lexington, including “forced walking during recess and silent lunch as punishments.”

“While the school states that positive reinforcement is a primary approach, these practices directly contradict that claim and instead function as public shaming and humiliation for young children,” Megan Laffew, whose son attends Liberty and was given the punishments, told the Herald-Leader in an email. “Publicly isolating children in front of peers is harmful, stigmatizing, and undermines their sense of safety and dignity.”

In response, Tracy Bruno, chief of staff for the district, told the Herald-Leader on Friday, “When a family has a concern, we encourage the family to reach out to the student’s teacher. If the family continues to have the same concern, we encourage the family to reach out to the school administration and then the School Chief in the Office of School Leadership.”

Laffew said there appeared to be no records, logs, or documentation showing which students were punished, when the punishment occurred, the duration or frequency of the punishment, the reason for the consequence, and who authorized or supervised it. The absence of such documentation raises concerns about accountability and transparency, said Laffew.

“Without proper records, there is no mechanism to evaluate whether these disciplinary actions are being used fairly, consistently, or appropriately,” she said. Laffew also noted the lack of documentation makes it impossible to assess whether racial or other demographic disparities exist in the administration of the punishments.

After expressing her concerns, Laffew received an email from a school administrator that she shared with the Herald-Leader. It said the school has a behavior system that supports positive behavior.

The email from the administrator also noted that five other elementary schools in the district use the same walking recess punishment.

A district student support representative has offered Laffew a meeting, she said.

Laffew is requesting:

• Immediate discontinuation of punitive walking at recess and silent lunches as disciplinary measures

• Implementation of a clear, documented discipline tracking system, including demographic data, to ensure transparency and equity.

• Review of current disciplinary practices to ensure alignment with evidence-based, developmentally appropriate, and trauma-informed approaches.

• Communication with families outlining how the school will address the harm caused by these practices and prevent recurrence.

• A meeting with administration to discuss these concerns and the steps the school will take to create a safe, supportive environment for all students.

“I sincerely hope the school will take this matter seriously and commit to practices that truly support students’ well-being,” Laffew said.

This story was originally published December 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM.