On December 3rd, Maria V. Navarro, the Superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, made a significant claim. She stated that students with special needs were allegedly "declined service" at a Maryland Cracker Barrel. This incident has sparked a great deal of attention and controversy.

Company's Response and Apology

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the company explained that the incident occurred "due to our inability to accommodate a party of 18 that arrived when we were facing unexpected staffing issues and had partially closed our second dining room." Cracker Barrel expressed their sincere apology, stating that "at Cracker Barrel, we strive to create a welcoming environment and great experience for all of our guests. That we disappointed this group of students and teachers during their recent visit is unacceptable to us."They added that "our missteps last week were unfortunate but were unrelated to the students' capabilities. Our failure to follow certain operational protocols combined with poor communication on our part then led to misunderstandings and misperceptions."

Details of the Alleged Incident

According to a statement from Superintendent Navarro, on Tuesday, December 3rd, while 11 students and seven staff members were visiting the Cracker Barrel in Waldorf as part of community-based instruction (CBI), they were refused service. The group had notified the establishment of the planned visit, including the number of people and the purpose. They were also told that no reservation was needed.However, when they arrived, they were declined service and asked to no longer include the restaurant on its CBI list. But they were able to place a carry-out order. School staff members have since spoken with the restaurant's district manager, expressing their concerns about the service refusal.

Aftermath and Future Plans

Other retailers and restaurants have reached out to offer their locations as future CBI sites, showing support for the students. Navarro thanked the staff for their swift action in reporting the incident and keeping families updated.The superintendent said CCPS staff members have offered to work with Cracker Barrel to provide training in disability awareness for its employees. In the meantime, school district officials hope Cracker Barrel will agree to serve as a work-based learning site for CCPS students.Navarro emphasized that students and staff are the No. 1 priority, and they are disheartened by the alleged treatment received during the activity.Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.