A preschool teacher in Prosper is out of a job and facing felony charges after police say four children became suddenly ill on Halloween due to suspected THC exposure and had to be hospitalized.
In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Prosper Police said dispatchers received a call at about 4:35 p.m. Monday about a medical emergency at the Primrose School of Prosper, a preschool located at 1185 La Cima Boulevard.
Primrose School of Prosper also released a statement Tuesday evening stating that staff immediately called 911 after observing four children in the toddler classroom displaying unusual symptoms.
They also evacuated the building.
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Police say two students were taken by Prosper Fire-Rescue to a hospital. The Frisco Fire Department took a third child to a hospital and the fourth student was driven to a hospital by their parents who had already picked the child up from school.
Investigators said the preliminary evidence suggests the children were exposed to THC, the active ingredient found in marijuana. Three of the students were discharged from the hospital, but a fourth is still hospitalized in stable condition.
Tuesday evening the school said all the children are now home and recovering.
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This news has been shocking, upsetting and shakes us to the very core of every principle we stand for. There is no greater priority to us every day than the health and safety of the children entrusted to our care.
Primrose School of Prosper
Police did not reveal any further information such as how the kids were exposed to TCH or the specific ages of the children.
According to their website, Primrose serves age groups ranging from infants through kindergarten and also provides after-school services for students ages 5 through 12. In a statement Tuesday afternoon, which can be read below in its entirety, the school said as part of their response to the matter the toddler room was sanitized and the building was swept by authorities.
STAFFER FIRED, FACES FELONY CHARGES
Anisah Burks, 35, a staff member of the school was arrested Monday, police said, and is now facing several charges including felony possession of a controlled substance and four counts of injury to a child.
Primrose said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that the employee who was arrested had been fired. They added that the school conducts background checks on all employees before they are hired.
"We have every reason to believe, including from the authorities, that this was an isolated incident involving one teacher who was immediately terminated," the school said in a statement.
The school did not say how long Burks had been teaching at the school or what grade level she worked with.
"This swift arrest was the result of the complete cooperation of the school and the combined efforts of PPD and Prosper Fire-Rescue. Further, the Texas Department of Family Services, Child Care Licensing Division has been notified," said Prosper Police.
The investigation into the exposure is ongoing. Police said anyone with additional information is asked to immediately contact the Prosper Police Department at 972-569-1046.
STATEMENT FROM PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF PROSPER
Below is the unedited statement from Primrose School of Prosper.
"On Monday, Oct. 31, after four children in our toddler classroom were observed displaying unusual symptoms of illness, our staff acted immediately and called 9-1-1 and our building was evacuated. Police were notified and the facility closed today.
These four children were hospitalized for treatment and were found to have been exposed to THC, an illegal substance. Local authorities have alleged the source of the exposure was linked to a teacher in the room, and the individual was terminated immediately. With our assistance, law enforcement moved swiftly to make an arrest.
This news has been shocking, upsetting and shakes us to the very core of every principle we stand for. There is no greater priority to us every day than the health and safety of the children entrusted to our care.
As part of our stringent safety measures, we conduct background checks on all teachers and staff members prior to their hire. The individual involved in this situation was subjected to those same background checks as all our teachers.
Local authorities searched our entire campus and deemed our school safe to occupy, and we are sanitizing the Toddler room today. Authorities have let us know that we can reopen tomorrow.
Words cannot sufficiently express our deep concern over this matter. We have every reason to believe, including from the authorities, that this was an isolated incident involving one teacher who was immediately terminated.
We are praying for a quick recovery for these children and are relieved that they are all home from the hospital."
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