CHERRY HILL, N.J. (CBS 3) ―
Nov 28, 2007
Outraged parents attended a school board meeting Tuesday evening to discuss the discovery of a padded 'quiet room' inside a Cherry Hill school last month.
Parents met with school officials to discuss the room during a public meeting at the Clara Barton School on Rhode Island Avenue in Cherry Hill.
The room was first disclosed during an October meeting where parents were apparently told the padded room may have been used for children with autism and behavioral problems.
Concerned parent Lisa Grams used her cell phone to snap photos of the small, windowless storage room which was lined with gym mats.
"It made me sick. It made me absolutely sick," said Grams.
Grams said she took photos and video of the room while visiting the school in October.
"I walked into the room and it stunk so bad; the air was just very old. The gym mat, it smelled like urine," Grams said.
She said special education students notified her that other students with autism and other behavioral issues may have been put in the 'quiet room' in order to calm down.
Grams' son, who is autistic, was never placed in the room, but it concerned for other students at the school.
"How dare this school system treat small children so disrespectful," an outraged parent said during Tuesday night's meeting.
Not all parents were outraged over the school's actions. A parent of a special needs student applauded the district's polices.
"This is a dedicated group of people here in our administration," the parent said.
A School District spokesperson told CBS 3 the room was only used once under supervision for a student in crisis and they had received prior parental consent.
The school also followed up with the family after the incident and received no complaints. School officials said the room has been dismantled and has not been used since.
The Special Education Alliance:
http://www.cherryhillsea.com/paddedroom.htm
View photos of padded closet w/description:
http://revpage.com/tips/cherry%20hill/russell_knight_school.htm
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