VIDEO: Silver Creek superintendent addresses concerns over 'de-escalation' room
Silver Creek, N.Y. (WBEN) - Reacting to critical accusations and media reports about the use of a 'de-escalation' room in the Silver Creek elementary school, the district superintendent is speaking out via a video message and defending the use of the room to address certain behavioral situations.
"A number of the allegations made are utterly false and mandate an immediate response," said Todd Crandall in the statement. "This is a widely accepted method of addressing the needs of children who simply require some time alone in a quiet place to gather their thoughts and composure so that they are able to safely re-join their peers in the classroom."
Crandall says the room is not used as an isolation cell and is also not able to be locked from within. Both the Silver Creek Fire Department and New York State Police have inspected the room as recently as Monday.
A district administrator wrote a letter to the board of education, raising concerns the room was a 'jail-like' cell and that children were being locked inside.
A 'robust' investigation into the claims made about the room is underway and Crandall expects findings shortly.
Crandall released the above photo of the 'de-escalation' room which is located in the administrative office area of the schools.
"The New York State Education Department authorizes the use of such rooms in its regulations."
