UPDATE: Alleged ‘Pot Brownies’ Distributed at Farmwell Station Middle

UPDATED Jan. 27 8:30 a.m.

After rumors hit the Internet Thursday evening suggesting multiple students were expelled from Farmwell Station Middle School for consuming brownies with marijuana allegedly baked inside, the primary part that appears to be untrue is the expulsion. Disciplinary action has not yet been taken and is not dispensed immediately by schools, according the school principal and the spokesman for Loudoun County Schools.

Wayde Byard, the LCPS spokesman, confirmed the brownies had been consumed but said the rumors about expulsions were clearly untrue because disciplinary procedures could not have been undertaken, including investigations and hearings. Byard also said the school system cannot comment about specific punishments because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Byard said school administrators believe two students brought the brownies, while nine others consumed at least some of the baked goods. It’s not clear how administrators discovered the problem. It’s also not yet clear whether the brownies contained an illegal substance and, if so, where the students obtained the drugs.

Byard said the incident serves as a wake-up call that curious children can get their hands on items they were not meant to touch, and that families must be vigilant about any potentially illegal activity. While marijuana appears to be the drug in this case, alcohol and prescription drugs that may legally be in a home post an equal threat.

“If you have alcohol or drugs, prescription or not, you have to make sure they’re in an area where children can’t get them,” Byard said. He also clarified that he does not know where the students obtained the alleged drugs in this case; that’s a job for the sheriff’s office.

“I hope there are a lot of family conversations in the community tonight,” Byard said, adding that parents should not “kid themselves” that it’s not a serious issue.

In terms of discipline, Byard said that’s a process yet to be completed, but that students should not fear that such a  “mistake” will mar their lives forever.

“This is not about punishment; it’s about kids who made a mistake,” he said. “That’s going to be our focus.”

Principal Sherryl Loya posted the following message on the LCPS Facebook page Thursday night:

“Good evening, this is Sherryl Loya, the principal of Farmwell Station Middle School. There was a great deal of social media activity tonight stating that up to 20 students have been expelled from Farmwell Station for an alleged offense. This is not true. Our school system's disciplinary system does not impose instant punishments for any offense. When severe punishment, such as a suspension or expulsion, is imposed, it is done only after a thorough investigation at the school and review at the central office. I'm asking you please do not contribute to the misinformation being spread. Thank you.”

While its unclear whether the situation will result in criminal charges, the LCSO will undoubtedly have questions about how middle school students obtained marijuana. Sheriff Mike Chapman suggested to Leesburg Today, according to that paper's story, as few as two students had the brownies, while several others may have had a taste.

Initial story

After rumors hit the Internet Thursday evening suggesting multiple students were expelled from Farmwell Station Middle School for consuming brownies with marijuana baked inside, the primary part that appears to be untrue is the expulsion. And that’s because disciplinary has not yet been taken.

While the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to email inquiries about the situation, both Leesburg Today and the Loudoun Times-Mirror reported Thursday night that Sheriff Mike Chapman confirmed that students were caught with the pot brownies and that more information would be available in the morning.

Loudoun County Public Schools spokesman Wayde Byard said the rumors about expulsions were clearly untrue because disciplinary procedures could not have been undertaken investigations and hearings. When one Patch reader said the believed suspension were instead handed out, Byard said the school system cannot comment about specific punishments because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Principal Sherryl Loya posted the following message on the LCPS Facebook page:

“Good evening, this is Sherryl Loya, the principal of Farmwell Station Middle School. There was a great deal of social media activity tonight stating that up to 20 students have been expelled from Farmwell Station for an alleged offense. This is not true. Our school system's disciplinary system does not impose instant punishments for any offense. When severe punishment, such as a suspension or expulsion, is imposed, it is done only after a thorough investigation at the school and review at the central office. I'm asking you please do not contribute to the misinformation being spread. Thank you.”

While its unclear whether the situation will result in criminal charges, the LCSO will undoubtedly have questions about how middle school students obtained marijuana. Chapman suggested to Leesburg Today, according to that paper's story, as few as two students had the brownies, while several others may have had a taste.