Seven faculty members at Fallsburg's Benjamin Cosor Elementary School are being investigated after heroin and needles were found in a faculty men's room, the Times Herald-Record reports.
According to Fallsburg police, drugs were found in the same bathroom on two separate occasions: On Friday, Dec. 20, heroin and several needles were found. More recently, on Feb. 11, a school staff member found a heroin baggie.
Police have identified six teachers, an aide, and an occupational therapist who used the faculty men's room before the Feb. 11 discovery. The occupational therapist gave police a urine sample, but the other seven faculty members under investigation have hired lawyers and are not voluntarily cooperating with the investigation, Fallsburg police chief Simmie Williams told the Times Herald-Record:
"If you got nothing to hide, give me some urine," Williams said. "Let's clear the teachers' names who are taking care of these babies for six or seven hours a day."
Some teachers were questioned last week at the school, the Times Herald-Record reported.
The Fallsburg Central School District sent a notice to parents about the situation on Monday, which was also posted on the district's Facebook page. In the statement, which did not reveal the names of the teachers under investigation, superintendent Ivan Katz urged anyone with information to contact Fallsburg police. From the district's statement:
The Fallsburg Police Department is conducting a criminal investigation of these incidents. We are fully cooperating with the police in this investigation and, in order not to interfere with that investigation, cannot comment further at this time.
Many parents of children in the school have left angry comments on the district's Facebook page. Buck Marley writes in a comment:
So I'm supposed to send my sons back to school knowing there is a high level drug addict working in the building...at least suspend the culprits pending investigation to let the parents/family of the students feel comfortable that the necessary steps are being taken to assure the safety of the students!!
