Middle School Students Facing Disciplinary Action After Bringing Medicine to School

By WYDaily Staff Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Six Yorktown Middle School students are facing disciplinary action along with a criminal investigation after bringing prescription and over-the-counter drugs to school last week.

In a phone call to parents Tuesday evening, YMS Principal Candi Skinner acknowledged the Friday incident and encouraged parents to use it as an opportunity to talk with their children about the proper use of medication, prescription or otherwise, and rules about bringing those items to school.

Division rules dictate that all medication at school be administered through the school nurse.

"Through recent YCSD Parent Universities and many local and national media stories, many of you have heard that the abuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs is a nationwide issue facing our youth," Skinner said in her recorded message. "While we in the Yorktown Middle School community are saddened that this has occurred so close to home, this provides us all with an opening to have discussions with our children about the dangers of taking medications that may be found in all of our homes."

Skinner also urged parents to read several resources on drug abuse prevention that have been posted on the division website. Click here to read them.

Division spokeswoman Betsy Overkamp-Smith said the range of consequences the six students face for possession and/or use of over-the-counter or prescription drugs in a non-prescribed manner is a minimum of 1-10 day suspension (Level III) to long-term suspension from 11-364 days, alternative education placement or recommendation for expulsion (Level IV). Those guidelines are included in the division's Student Handbook and Conduct Code, which is availabe by clicking here.

Skinner invited parents who have questions about the incident or who would like to talk to call her at 898-0360.

York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office spokesman Mike Russell said the incident is under investigation.