OBSERVER photo Silver Creek Central Schools

SILVER CREEK — Silver Creek Superintendent Todd Crandall says allegations of an isolation room used by the elementary school are “utterly false” in a post on the district’s Facebook page Monday afternoon.

Crandall’s comments come after Jay Hall, assistant director of elementary programming, sent a letter dated March 29 to the school board criticizing the “isolation cell.” The letter, quickly posted to social media, led to a meeting by residents and family members at Sky’s the Limit on Main Street on Thursday evening.

Parents and Hall’s attorney indicated all the facts would come out — and Hall would speak publicly at a later date.

In the meantime, Crandall took to Facebook in an attempt to calm concerns of a community.

“The district does not now, nor has it ever used an isolation cell, nor has it ever locked a child in a room alone,” Crandall’s Facebook post said. “The district does utilize a de-escalation room. 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. It is by no means intended, nor has it ever been used as a form of punishment or have any negative implications. The New York state Education Department authorizes the use of such rooms in its regulations.”

Crandall said the district suspended use of the room once allegations were made last week.

“There has been an allegation that children have been locked in the room,” he wrote in the post. “That is also false. The room does not lock from the inside. A person cannot be locked in the room. The Erie-2 BOCES Coordinator of Health and Safety inspected the room (Monday) and confirmed that the room is safe.

“Likewise, the Silver Creek Volunteer Fire Chief inspected the room earlier today and confirmed that it meets all applicable fire codes and regulations. He also confirmed that a person cannot be locked in the room. An investigator from the New York State police inspected the room earlier today, raised no concerns as to the safety of the room, and the District will fully cooperate with any law enforcement investigation if one is commenced.”

Crandall said the de-escalation room itself is located on the first floor near the Elementary main office of the school. He said when a child is in the room, the child is monitored. “The room is well ventilated and has a large window,” he said.

More information will be forthcoming, Crandall said, as the investigation proceeds.