Fifth Graders Expelled After Putting Rat Poison in Teacher's Coffee
Three Fresno Unified School District fifth-graders have been expelled after it was found that they had put rat poison in their teacher's coffee and cupcake, the Fresno Teachers Association said.
Fresno Unified spokeswoman Susan Bedi confirmed that three students allegedly plotted to poison a teacher's coffee in mid-Dec., but it was not until a mother bragged to school officials that her child had saved the teachers life that an investigation was started.
Immediate disciplinary action was taken against the students, Bedi said. All three students were expelled and placed in other schools.
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The female teacher, who has not been identified, did not drink the coffee which was allegedly laced with rat poison because one of the students involved thought better of it and knocked the cup off her desk, Bedi said.
School District officials notified Fresno police about the attempted poisoning Bedi said. She also insisted that the district continues to make school safety a high priority.
"Staff and administration are extremely vigilant in investigating alleged violations of the district's zero tolerance policy and students who violate this policy are disciplined in a swift and appropriate manner," Bedi said.
Police officer Mark Salazar told KMPH: "You hear sometimes of kids bringing knives to school, but you don't hear the rat poison angle, especially at the elementary school."
Fresno police will complete their investigation next week. After their investigation, police will consult with the District Attorney's Office over whether charges will be filed against the children.
Holding a box of rat poison and a cupcake at a press conference, Teachers Association President Greg Gadams said the children should face a penalty.
"There should be some kind of legal charges filed against them, because if there is not, as they move up in the school system there will really be no record of anything that happened," he said.
