Students were evacuated twice from Cape Coral High School earlier this week due to two students releasing a stink spray on campus — a connection to a TikTok “stink spray challenge,” officials said.
The “stink spray” was released at 7:30 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. causing two evacuations of the campus.
The Cape Coral Police Department continues its investigation.
“This behavior caused significant disruption to the school day and resulted in two staff members being transported to the hospital,” the email to parents from Cape Coral High School Principal Ryan Jackson said. “This type of conduct will not be tolerated at Cape Coral High School. Both students will be disciplined to the fullest extent possible under the Student Code of Conduct. In addition, both students are facing legal consequences.”
The email also stated that “while these social media trends may appear harmless to students, they can have serious consequences. Participating in such pranks can lead to criminal charges and school discipline.”
School District spokesperson Rob Spicker said the students were taken to the football field when evacuated and had the all clear to return to class at 10:10 after the first evacuation was called at 7:20 a.m.
The second time the students were evacuated, he said they were told to bring their belongings with them as they would be dismissed early. Students who were at lunch were not able to retrieve their belongings, but had the opportunity to enter the school a second time after the all clear and again from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Spicker said.
“We encourage all parents to remind their children that mimicking disruptive or destructive behavior at school is not a harmless prank,” Spicker said. “We will not tolerate this kind of behavior. Students involved will face school discipline and potential legal consequences.”
The two staff members, who were transported to the hospital because of the stink spray, are both doing fine.
“One returned to the campus after going to the hospital to help with the work being done on campus,” Spicker said.
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