A 26-year-old Spring man who worked as a classroom aide at Klein ISD's Therapeutic and Readiness Center was fired and arrested Wednesday, Aug. 19, on a felony charge of Injury to a Child, just five days into the new school year.

James Theodor Broussard faces the charge in Harris County's 180th District Court after Klein ISD Police investigated allegations that he intentionally caused bodily injury to a student under 15, according to Fox 26 Houston. He is held in Harris County Jail on a $30,000 bond. Assistant District Attorney John Crump requested strict conditions: no contact with minors under 17, no contact with the victim's family and no firearm possession.

Broussard's first court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20, in the 180th District Court.

Klein ISD said administrators notified district police and the student's family immediately upon learning of the allegation, and that Broussard was fired following the investigation.

The Therapeutic and Readiness Center, at 4411 Louetta Road, serves students with special needs from kindergarten through post-secondary age 22 and has capacity for 250 students.

Parent says district gave 'vague details'

A mother whose nonverbal, level-three autistic son was in Broussard's classroom both last year and this year told Fox 26 she had to look up court records herself to learn the charge details.

"My son is level three autistic. He cannot answer my questions," she said. "They gave me the most vague details... I saw the charge on the website that it's bodily harm to a child. That's the only way that I knew. They're just not communicating, and that's just the most frustrating part."

The mother also said she received an email after the arrest notifying her that cameras in the classroom had been requested to be activated. She had no idea a written request was required.

What the camera law means for Spring-area families

Under Texas Education Code § 29.022, school districts must install and operate video cameras in self-contained special education classrooms, but only after a parent, staff member or board member submits a written request. That request must be renewed in writing each school year.

The law is statewide. Any parent of a child in a self-contained special education classroom in Klein ISD or Spring ISD can submit a written request to the campus principal to activate cameras, according to Disability Rights Texas.

Louis Geigerman, president of National ARD/IEP Advocates and a special education advocate who helped pass the 2015 camera legislation, told Fox 26 that training gaps contribute to incidents like this. When aides lack proper training on managing student behavior, Geigerman said, they rely on instinct, and that is where abuse can occur.

Geigerman urged parents to submit a written camera request to their campus principal immediately, especially at the start of a new school year. Under state law, once an incident is reported or a video request is submitted, districts must preserve all related footage until investigations and legal proceedings conclude.

Families who want cameras activated can submit the request in writing to their child's campus principal at any time during the school year.