DENVER — A Denver Police spokesperson said Friday that the department has opened an investigation into a monitored seclusion room at McAuliffe International School where Denver school board members said students were locked up.
It wasn't initially clear who filed a report with Denver Police or when the report was filed; however, Auon'tai Anderson confirmed through social media Friday afternoon that he was the one to file a mandatory report.
In the post, Anderson said he received an additional email from the McAuliffe whistleblower with a portion that said, "most students locked in this room had [Individualized Education Programs], and were quite literally dragged through the school screaming down the hallway and put in this room" – Anderson added that this was "sufficient information to trigger the District's mandatory reporting obligation."
At a news conference Thursday, Denver Board of Education vice president Auon'tai Anderson said he was recommending an investigation by Denver Police and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to ensure no students were held against their will and that no serious physical or emotional harm came to students.
"Students of color were locked in this room multiple times last year, and this lock is on the outside of the door," Anderson said. He was told about the room by the whistleblower; he said the whistleblower told him they are a member of the McAuliffe staff.
The whistleblower's email also included a video that, according to Anderson, shows a "door that was modified with a barrel bolt latch outside of the door. This would prevent anyone inside of the room from exiting the room."
An attorney for former McAuliffe principal Kurt Dennis said that the room is for de-escalation – or providing a safe, quiet space that allows its user to calm down. David Lane told 9NEWS that the door latch was put in place either this year or last year and was used only once as he said psychologists were concerned that a person could accidentally get locked in with a violent kid.
"Over the last year, two students at McAuliffe were put into a de-escalation room, and that was an approved plan from their individual education plans," Lane said. "Their psychologist approved that plan. Their parents approved of that plan. Administration approved of that plan."
Denver Public Schools policy generally allows for the use of de-escalation rooms when those rooms are properly constructed for that purpose, said Bill Good, chief communications officer for DPS. He said that from what is presently known, McAuliffe did not adhere to these best practices.
Good said that in reviewing the available photographs, it appears the room at McAuliffe was unfit for the purpose for which it was being used.
Namely:
- Plumbing fixtures and piping were not removed or secured
- Electrical raceways were exposed
- Fire Suppression System was unsecured
- Radiator piping was unsecured
- Radiator piping was exposed
- No padding on the walls (although not mandatory
Good said that in accordance with DPS school district best practices, de-escalation rooms should adhere to these minimum standards of construction:
- All plumbing fixtures and piping must be removed or secured
- All exposed light bulbs need to be removed or secured
- Secure electrical raceways
- Secure Fire Suppression system/piping
- Secure thermostat covers
- Insulate any radiator piping or equipment that may get hot
- Remove any blinds or any window coverings that could be pulled down
- Secure or limit all windows in the room
- Furniture that is not plastic or secured will need to be removed from the area (this includes any pictures that are hanging on the walls)
- Consider adding padding to the walls
- Remove any cabinet doors
- Cover any rugs/carpeting as completely as possible
- Room should not have any bookshelves
Marrero fired Dennis last month after Dennis told 9NEWS he was concerned about the district's requirement of daily staff pat-downs of students accused of serious crimes — up to attempted murder.
A vote on Dennis' termination will take place at the next board meeting.
Laura Casillas contributed to this report.
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