According to a release from the Marysville School District, “charges are pending” against students at the district’s Early College High School (ECHS) after a drug sweep Thursday.
According to releases from the school district and the Marysville Division of Police, the police K-9 unit, with the assistance of other officers, conducted the drug and contraband search at about 9:30 a.m. The sweep, which included the ECHS building and parking lot, reportedly came at the request of the school district. Police officials said the sweep took about two hours to complete.
“This search occurred out of our desire to be proactive in making sure drugs stay out of our building,” ECHS Principal Kathy McKinniss said in the release.
Reports indicate that the drug dog did not locate anything inside the school, but indicated the presences of drugs in three student vehicles in the parking lot.
Officers searched the three vehicles and found contraband in two of them. The police department release indicates that several items believed to be illegal, including marijuana and drug paraphernalia, were found in the searches.
Marysville Superintendent Diane Mankins said three students are facing potential charges in connection with the drug sweep. Police officials said two of the students involved were associated with the same car.
Officials said the students involved were transported from the school for further questioning but were not placed under arrest.
Information from the case will be forwarded to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office where a final decision about possible charges through juvenile court will be made.
Mankins said student privacy rights prevent district officials from commenting on potential penalties for the students within the school district.
McKinniss sent an email about the search to parents of children in the school. She urged parents to use the incident to open lines of communication with their teens.
“Please take the opportunity to discuss making good choices with your student(s) and the importance of alerting an adult or authorities if they are aware of drug use or distribution,” McKinniss said in the correspondence.
The superintendent said random drug sweeps in the schools are an important part of the community’s battle against the drug epidemic. She said educators are charged with providing a healthy, drug-free learning environment for students.
“It lets kids know we are looking and always have our eyes open,” Mankins said.
Police officials said it has been about three years since Marysville High School has been searched. Officials said that because the building is larger, a search takes more resources and coordination to conduct. Law enforcement officials said that, at the district’s request, they do use a K-9 to check student bags before various field and class trips.