Release from Sarai Pierce, Director of Schools for Sequatchie County:
The safety of our students is our utmost priority. I want to reassure parents that we are cooperating fully with law enforcement, who are leading the investigation. Due to the involvement of minors, we are limited in what details we can disclose, respecting the privacy and confidentiality of the individuals involved.
We can confirm that a student had a severe reaction to using a dab pen and was taken to the hospital. As a precaution, another student was taken for observation.
I urge parents to have open, honest conversations with their children about the dangers of substance abuse, especially in the context of vape pens. We have been diligent in communicating these risks, emphasizing that often, these substances contain unknown and harmful ingredients, leading to unpredictable and frightening reactions.
Our school system will continue to uphold our discipline policy, ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment for all students. In addition, we will conduct unannounced safety checks, working collaboratively with law enforcement and local agencies to further ensure the safety of our students.
This situation occurred on Thursday, November 2, 2023.
