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5 kids facing 'school punishment' for sharing drug-tainted food

ATLANTA — Officials with Fulton County Schools announced Friday that five Sandtown Middle School students are facing disciplinary action for sharing drug-tainted food with other students.

This development about the charges comes one day after investigators confirmed THC was found in a food sample taken from the school after several students came down ill on Valentine's Day.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said tests showed THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana, was found in one of the samples that "has the appearance of cereal."

A total of 28 students were sickened and taken to hospitals. At the time, the students reported feeling shortness of breath and other reactions after eating food or candy.

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“It is possible that not all students who were transported ingested illegal substances,” said Cliff Jones, chief academic officer for Fulton County Schools, citing that only four of the 28 students were kept overnight for observation. “But when any child reports feeling ill, our clinic staff evaluates them and trusts the opinions of other medical personnel, such EMS responders, to determine whether to transport a student to the hospital for further assessment.”

Sandtown Middle School parent Willie Davis told Channel 2’s Matt Johnson that he has followed every development of the incident and says what happened is unbelievable.

“I feel sorry for the parents of those (five) students, but I think at this point, you got to send a message,” Davis said. “This is extremely serious.”

Davis' son was not among the students who ate the tainted candy and Rice Krispies treats. He told Johnson that he's concerned it could happen again if students aren't held accountable criminally.

“There needs to be consequences, and it needs to be sent to juvenile court and let that process play out,” Davis said. “Obviously, these 12- to 14-year-olds didn’t make it, so they got it from somewhere. So that’s the most important part: How did these kids get this, and what was the intention of the individuals who gave it to them?"

The GBI said its crime lab received 46 food samples for testing and is continuing to analyze all items related to the incident.

Privacy laws prevent school officials from revealing names and punishments for the students involved.

School authorities say the students could eventually be suspended or expelled while school officials determine whether criminal charges will be filed.