Principal Placed On Leave After Taking Students ADD Drugs

[matcom]

<snip>

An assistant principal at West Middle School in Ypsilanti was placed on paid leave Wednesday while authorities investigate allegations that could lead to criminal charges, school officials said.

Marcus Burlingame, 33, of Ypsilanti Township, who has worked for the Ypsilanti district seven years, said Wednesday night that he is on leave for taking attention deficit disorder drugs intended for students at the school.

In an interview at his home, he apologized and said he plans to enter a drug treatment facility today.

The school district said in a statement that the matter is under investigation by the Washtenaw County Sheriff, the Michigan State Police and the district. However, no criminal charges have been filed, and district spokeswoman Tulani Smith declined to comment on the case.

State Police Det. 1st. Lt. Garth Burnside confirmed that Burlingame is under investigation by the Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team, but he declined further comment.

Burlingame said he was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder two years ago and had been taking Adderal, a prescription medication. Over time, he said, he became addicted to the medicine, adding to his daily dose with medicine kept under lock and key for students who have ADD. According to the administrator, school policy requires such medication to be dispensed by adults.

http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1102002096117163.xml

[derby378]

1. I can't say it enough...

If a child does have ADHD, care should be supervised by physicians, not school bureaucrats.

When this mandatory testing of schoolchildren for mental illness kicks in, are these same principles gonna score some Wellbutrin for themselves, too?