Substitute teacher forces kids outside as punishment

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) -- Parents in Cranston are outraged following the recent actions of a substitute teacher. The teacher allegedly forced children to go outside without their coats, as punishment.

While hundreds of students from Kindergarten to sixth grade attend Stadium Elementary School, on Wednesday, two of those kids were sent out in to the cold.

"It's unacceptable. The behavior is unacceptable," said Frank Lombardi of the Cranston School Committee.

Lombardi said the school is handling the situation.

"Parents obviously, justifiably complained. The principal was notified after school. Principal immediately notified the administration and the administration immediately went to work first thing this morning and put it to rest from a personnel standpoint," explained Lombardi.

However, it's still unclear if the substitute has been banned from working in Cranston schools.

"If I had my druthers and everything is true, that substitute teacher should not work in Cranston, but that's not my decision to make at this point," he continued.

School committee members are not releasing the name of the substitute teacher involved, citing personnel and confidentiality rules.