WALDORF, Md. — Cracker Barrel was apologizing Saturday after their Waldorf, Maryland location kicked out 11 students with disabilities and seven special education staff members, while also denying that their employees discriminated against students.
"That we disappointed this group of students and teachers is unacceptable to us, and we sincerely apologize," Cracker Barrel's media relations team said on Saturday.
The Tuesday incident at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on Robert S. Crain Highway sparked criticism from Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Navarro, whose staff had organized the visit for lunchtime after an initiative called community-based instruction, which aims to help students with special needs adopt occupational and social skills.
After students and teachers were refused seating on Tuesday, the special education group apparently had to wait for more than an hour before getting meals in takeout boxes to eat outside the restaurant.
"The alleged treatment of CCPS students and staff at Cracker Barrel is one that no one should experience," Superintendent Navarro said Thursday. "However, it is encouraging that the district manager said the business would be willing to work with CCPS to do better."
Cracker Barrel admitted that their staff did not follow protocol but denied accusations that staff discriminated against the students because of their disabilities. Instead, the restaurant chain's media relations team claims the restaurant chain's Waldorf location did not have enough staff to accommodate a larger group.
"Our missteps earlier this week were unfortunate but were unrelated to the students' capabilities," Cracker Barrel's media relations team said on Saturday. "They were due to our inability to accommodate a party of 18 that arrived when we were facing unexpected staffing issues."
However, this was not an unexpected visit, according to Superintendent Navarro.
"Charles County Public Schools staff notified the establishment of the planned visit, including how many were in the party," Superintendent Navarro told parents and community members on Thursday. "... CCPS staff were reportedly told by restaurant staff that no reservations were necessary."
Despite pledges from Cracker Barrel to learn from their mistake and welcome the students back to their restaurant location, Superintendent Navarro said her staff already has plans for students in the community-based instruction program to visit other nearby businesses.
"CCPS staff members in the office of special education offered to work with restaurant officials to provide training in disability awareness for its employees," Navarro said on Thursday. "Restaurant officials have also indicated that they are available to speak with the parents of the students who visited the establishment."