Boy with Special Needs Found Unconscious in School Pool

Ontario family sues school district after 4-year-old nearly drowns due to alleged negligence

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:19am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a pool drain cover, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the tragic incident of a student with special needs nearly drowning in their school's pool.A chilling reminder of the tragic consequences when proper safety protocols are not followed, this close-up of a pool drain cover evokes the grim reality of a young student's near-drowning incident.Ontario Today

An Ontario mother has filed a lawsuit against the Ontario-Montclair School District after her 4-year-old son, who has autism, spina bifida, and is nonverbal, was found face down in the school's pool after teachers and aides allegedly left him unattended for 10 minutes. The boy was airlifted to the hospital and now suffers from diminished cognitive function and post-traumatic stress.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the critical need for proper supervision and safety protocols for students with special needs, especially in environments like school pools where there are heightened risks. The family's lawsuit aims to address the alleged negligence and push the school district to improve campus safety measures.

The details

According to the family's attorney, Robert Glassman, the young boy, identified as J.M., was left unattended for 10 minutes, during which time he crawled to the school's pool and was found face down in the water. A teacher's aide said she had been away from J.M. for 10 minutes when she heard people yelling, and a teacher acknowledged she was supposed to remain with J.M. but was in her classroom during the incident. The child was airlifted to the hospital and now suffers from diminished cognitive function and post-traumatic stress.

  • The incident occurred last December at Lincoln Elementary in Ontario, California.
  • The family filed the lawsuit against the Ontario-Montclair School District in April 2026.

The players

J.M.

A 4-year-old boy with autism, spina bifida, and who is nonverbal, who was found unconscious in his school's pool after being left unattended.

Robert Glassman

The family's attorney, who is representing them in the lawsuit against the school district.

Ontario-Montclair School District

The school district being sued by the family for alleged negligence and unsafe campus conditions.

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What they’re saying

“He can't speak. He can't tell his mom and his family how he's feeling. So, he's living with this nightmare terror inside.”

— Robert Glassman, Family Attorney

“He was left unattended — when he was supposed to have a one-on-one aide with him at all times — for 10 minutes. That's like an eternity. And, he ended up crawling to the big pool and was found face down in the pool for close to a minute before he was pulled out.”

— Robert Glassman, Family Attorney

“The degree of negligence in this case is really astounding.”

— Robert Glassman, Family Attorney

What’s next

The judge will decide whether to allow the school district to dismiss the family's lawsuit or if the case will proceed to trial.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of proper supervision and safety protocols for students with special needs, especially in high-risk environments like school pools. The family's lawsuit aims to hold the school district accountable and push for improved campus safety measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.