The Barnegat School Board has fired five staffers following an incident involving a young student with autism.

The staffers were identified solely by their employee identification numbers on the agenda.

Two motions passed unanimously to terminate four paraprofessionals and a teacher who were involved in the alleged incident. A third motion was added to the agenda during the executive session to reassign the current director of the special education program, that motion was also passed.

Many parents and members of the community filed into Barnegat High School to voice their concern over the alleged incident, including Christina Partyka, who is a former Barnegat teacher.

“I can’t tell you how many times in there I cried. It was just devastation, Partyka said.

Matthew Salvatore is the parent of a child with autism.

“When we heard about what happened, it was stunning, as details started emerging more and more of what happened it’s horrible,” Salvatore said.

The five school staffers have been on leave since news of the alleged incident.

News 12 heard from Superintendent of Schools Brian Latwis ahead of the special meeting, who said once there was validity of the alleged incident, the district moved forward.

“Within 48 hours, I had prepared the recommendation and scheduled the meeting tonight, which was the first time that we were available to have this meeting,” Latwis said.

Last week, News 12 New Jersey spoke exclusively to Kasi Spinelli, the mother of the non-verbal 8-year-old girl with autism who was allegedly bound with tape and restrained.

The child attends Brackman Middle School as part of its “ACES” program, which is designed for students primarily diagnosed with autism.

Many parents at the meeting say the district’s special education program is deeply flawed, with several parents referencing other incidents. They say they want change.

“I’m hoping there’s drastic change. It starts at the top not just the teachers involved or the aides involved in the incident that happened to this poor child it goes way beyond that,” Salvatore said.

Barnegat police investigated and found no crime was committed, the investigation is still open.