School Replies to Inhaler Incident

Email

[arjay]

I received the following reply from the school district regarding the inhaler incident in Texas. I thought this group would be interested.

From: "Gregory S. Poole"

Your Email is based on erroneous information. It is also an example of how the Internet, with all its glory, often misses the key ingredient of information gathering, which is substantiation.

Ø No student was ever in any life-threatening situation. Student confidentiality does not permit us to be specific but it has already been reported in a Houston paper that the student in question went to the clinic for a minor headache. During both incidents, three clinic personnel were present including a registered nurse.

Ø No student was ever expelled. (The student was withdrawn by his guardian shortly after the incident) . We had a mandatory expulsion hearing where we could finally use discretion. Our decision is that while the student could have been harmful, it does not merit expulsion. So why was it portrayed as an expulsion? State law requires an automatic expulsion hearing when dangerous drugs are involved.

Ø No student is “in jail”. The police are forced by mandatory requirements to send the case to the juvenile system but they did not accept the case based on our expulsion hearing.

Is this much ado about nothing? No. It is sad that our nurses and police do not have more discretion without violating the law. Where is the common sense? Our answer is that common sense did prevail. It just did not happen with internet-like speed. The system is set up to err on the side of caution when drugs are involved. It is also sad that many have labeled our school because of erroneous information. Caney Creek is rated Exemplary and produced three National Merit Scholars last year. Our students, parents and staff are very proud of our school and we are convinced if you had all of the facts, you would be also.

Caney Creek Administration

[PAR35]

I am pretty sure all schools in Texas are rated "Exemplary".

Except the ones rated recognized, academically acceptable, or academically unacceptable.

Definitions for the standards here:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2002/manual/table1.html

Most recent ratings here:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/index.html

View the complete manual here;
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/perfreport/account/2002/manual/index.html

[luckystarmom]

I know my daughter use to have very rapid heat beats, and I know that I had to monitor her heart rate.

[Thinkin' Gal]

It is sad that our nurses and police do not have more discretion without violating the law.

Vee verr just following orders...

[Born Conservative]

Common side effect of Albuterol but not life threatening (unless there was a VERY large amount of Albuterol ingested).

[luckystarmom]

The kid wasn't expelled, so I don't see the problem here. Of course, if I was the nurse I would have called the kids doctor and asked if the girl could take the other inhaler. It would have been an easy phone call to make.

If the girl was in real distress, I'm sure a 911 operator could have helped also.

[avenuesalan]

Contrary to that e-mail from the school saying the boy was not expelled, here is a link to an article saying he was expelled.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/2547143/detail.html

[hopespringseternal]

In their burning desire to be outraged, people often won't let facts stand in the way.

There is too much smoke for there not to be any fire. More than likely the administration backed off when the heat was on.

Around Houston, school officials seem to be cultivated from a particularly nasty breed of bottom-dweller. There are so many stories of sheer lunacy that they deserve no benefit of doubt.