MANHATTAN, Mont. \u2014 A Manhattan middle school field trip to Bridger Bowl took an unexpected turn last Friday when Principal Mary Fulp began behaving erratically in front of students and staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Superintendent Brian Ayers confirmed that first responders removed Fulp from the ski resort. She has been placed on administrative leave for the\u00a0remainder\u00a0of the school year. Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer confirmed she was placed in protective custody and taken to a hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Part of the incident was captured on Facebook Live and has since circulated in various online spaces. The video shows concerning behavior that Ayers said left students confused and frightened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“This is very troubling to see someone that they looked up to every day behaving like this\u00a0and not\u00a0understanding what is going on,” Ayers said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rumors have continued swirling on social media in the aftermath.\u00a0Ayers said the rumor that Fulp put a student in a headlock is not true.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve\u00a0spoken with that student\u2019s\u00a0parents;\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0spoken with that student.\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0even spoken with law enforcement. That did not happen,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The district has responded by providing counseling support and\u00a0therapy\u00a0dogs earlier this week. Teachers are checking in regularly with students who\u00a0witnessed\u00a0the incident. Ayers said so far, they are hearing students are doing better than\u00a0he\u00a0would have expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We just encourage our parents to touch base with\u00a0your\u00a0child. How did their day go? And, you know, if\u00a0there’s\u00a0any input that can be shared with us, please share it, because we want to\u00a0make sure\u00a0we’re meeting\u00a0the needs of\u00a0all of\u00a0our kids,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jason Beals, a Manhattan parent who did not have a child on the field trip, expressed concerns about Fulp potentially returning to work with students.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I am very concerned\u00a0of\u00a0her coming back and being around children, and having another episode, like what had happened on Friday,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n