Multiple Texas elementary school employees are under investigation after allegedly getting a lil’ outside help with nap time. This comes after parents accused two teachers of giving their preschoolers sleep-aid stickers on Sept. 24.
Northgate Crossing Elementary School confirmed to KHOU11 that they immediately pulled the two teachers from the classroom after receiving the complaint. Additionally, two paraprofessionals working in the same classroom are also on leave as a “precautionary measure,” per the Spring Independent School District (SISD).
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How The School & Its District Learned About The Sleep-Aid Stickers
So, let’s get into what happened. In September, four-year-old Layne Luviano took one of the alleged sleep-aid stickers home. Her mother, Lisa, peeped at the sticker but reportedly found it suspicious. When she asked Layne about it, the child reportedly said, “My teacher gives it to me for sleeping time.” In response, Lisa began doing some research online. Ultimately, per KHOU11, Lisa discovered that Amazon sells the stickers, which turned out to be sleeping aid patches.
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Lisa told the outlet that she reported the sleep-aid stickers to the school the next day. Two weeks later nothing allegedly happened, including any parent notification. So, Lisa started contacting the parents herself in a mass text, per ABC13.
Soon after, another mom, Melissa Gilford, showed her four-year-old daughter the sticker. Layne and Melissa’s daughter are in the same class. “Yes, that’s the sleepy sticker,” the kid reportedly responded.
Melissa told KHOU11 that the stickers are ‘Sleep ZPatch’ made by the company Klova. However, the sleeping aid is reportedly intended for adult use and contains melatonin, among other ingredients, to encourage sleep.
What Happens Next?
On Wednesday (Oct. 9), the Spring ISD confirmed to KHOU11 that the Spring ISD Police Department is investigating the matter. “The district takes every allegation of educator misconduct seriously and will take all necessary measures to ensure that our students are educated in a safe and nurturing environment,” the emailed statement reportedly said.
In a follow-up email to the outlet, Spring ISD also shared that administering the sleep-aid stickers would be a violation of their Board Policy FFAC. That policy reads as follows:
“No employee shall give any student prescription medication, nonprescription medication, herbal substances, anabolic steroids, or dietary supplements of any type, except as authorized by this or other District policy.”
Neither the Texas school district nor Northgate Crossing have revealed the names, ages, or work histories of the relevant four employees. It’s unclear how long the teachers were allegedly giving the students the sleep-aid stickers. However, Spring ISD officials reportedly asked parents not to discuss the allegations on Tuesday (Oct. 8) to avoid tainting the investigation.
Speaking of sleeping aids, kids and caregivers. Earlier this year, a former Indiana daycare director was sentenced to time behind bars and probation for giving kids melatonin without parental consent.
