Five students at Harmony School of Innovation were sickened and four were taken to hospitals Thursday after authorities said they ingested gummies believed to contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
Deputies responded around 12:30 p.m. to the Northeast Side campus, located in the 8100 block of Glen Mont Drive, after receiving reports that children had eaten the gummies, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Pre-K-through-11 public charter school is part of Harmony Public Schools, a statewide system of 64 campuses focused on science, technology, engineering and math.
In a letter to parents, principal Ferda Akgul said five sixth-graders reported feeling unwell after consuming THC gummies brought to school by a classmate. School staff contacted emergency medical services and notified the students’ parents, Akgul said.
All five students remained awake and responsive, according to the principal’s letter. Emergency personnel transported four of them to hospitals for precautionary medical evaluations.
The children, ages 10 to 13, were in stable condition and were expected to recover.
“While this incident represents a serious violation of our campus policies, our immediate focus remains on the health and full recovery of these students,” Akgul wrote.
Investigators are trying to determine how the students obtained the gummies and whether an adult provided them.
Authorities believe one of the children brought the gummies to school without knowing what they contained. Investigators do not believe the child intended to harm anyone, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.
If investigators determine an adult intentionally gave THC-laced chewable candies to the children, that person could face criminal charges including child endangerment, the spokesperson said.
In her letter, Akgul reminded families that THC and other controlled substances are prohibited on campus and urged students not to share or accept medications, edibles or unknown substances from peers. She said any medication or supplement needed during the school day must be submitted by a parent or guardian to the school’s Student Health Office for storage and administration.
“We encourage you to use this moment as an opportunity to talk with your child about the serious risks of consuming unknown substances and the importance of speaking up if they ever feel unsafe,” Akgul wrote.
The sheriff’s office also urged parents to pay close attention to what their children are eating, particularly as Halloween approaches and products containing intoxicating substances can be sold in packaging resembling candy.