The Journal was tipped off by anonymous comments on its Web site, www.mdjonline.com, earlier this week.
In a Tuesday interview, MHS principal Leigh Colburn said an investigation was underway, but declined to go into detail.
But on Wednesday, Preston Howard, an assistant superintendent of operations and policy development, told the Journal that three students had already been suspended Monday.
Although the school board conducted a board meeting Tuesday night, board members were kept in the dark about the matter, learning about it from the Journal, according to board Chairman Randy Weiner and board member Jill Mutimer. Mutimer said the board is not alerted by staff every time a suspension takes place.
In a Wednesday afternoon e-mail, Superintendent Dr. Emily Lembeck sent board members a list of talking points, warning them that they may be contacted by a reporter about the incident, and that "We trust that Mrs. Colburn will investigate and apply the behavior code appropriately if deemed necessary."
During the German trip, Howard said, a student with a prescription for Xanax, which is used to treat anxiety disorders, shared the controlled substance with two other students. Police were not summoned because staff were not aware of the incident until after the students returned from the trip. Howard said the incident was discovered when another student on the trip alerted his/her parent, and the parent in turn called a teacher. By noon Monday, the students were suspended, he said.
"As soon as we find out about things, we take appropriate action. We're going to deal with it as it is. We don't try to hide things or cover them up," Howard said.
One of the three students has been suspended pending a disciplinary tribunal. The other two have been suspended from school for a period of 10 days, of which five can be waived pending completion of a drug and alcohol abuse program. Distribution of drugs carries a heavier penalty, which is why the student who shared the prescription is suspended pending a disciplinary hearing, Howard said.
While there was a chaperone on the trip, Howard said it's very easy for one student to slip another a pill undetected.
"You can't keep an eye on students 24 hours a day," he said.
Twelve Marietta students attended the state German convention, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German, in Covington on Friday night. Teacher Laurie Beth Robinson is the faculty adviser to Marietta's German club. Students from across the state, as well as other local students, also attended.
In addition, school staff fumbled the approval process for the field trip, failing to bring the request for the trip before the board for advance approval. As a result, the board is being asked to retroactively approve the field trip at its Friday meeting.
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Makes sense to me this could have happened!
Last week during a meeting I shared how glad I am that in our city schools drug issues are addressed when they are known, and administration at Marietta High, Marietta Middle and MSGA are proactive in addressing drug use. Drug education and the partnership with the Marietta Police Department is something all the kids are or have been part. MPD has done a wonderful job with drug awareness and D.A.R.E.
As to this issue, Leigh Colburn is the person I trust to handle this issue. Her judgment is spot-on and her actions are appropriate. There is no mincing of words and no question that the right thing is done. She is definitely one person I would trust at any time to handle a situation head on like this, keeping the kids' best interests at heart. One would have to wonder if this would have ever come to light in other area schools. Also, I have NEVER seen anyone work so hard to have the relationships with these kids no matter their background. Leigh Colburn works her fingers to the bone for those kids.
There should be no pitting of Walker versus Marietta here. It is what it is and people need to realize that drug use is pervasive in our schools regardless of whether they are public, inner city, private or whatever. I'm just glad the right people are in charge at MHS to take care of it. Parents need to remember to lock their drug and liquor cabinets, no matter how old your kids are.