CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) has responded to claims circulating on social media that the school system and officials are “covering up” an incident that left an elementary schooler hospitalized on Friday.
In a letter sent home to parents on Friday, the principal of C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, Carrie Burke, said two students were reportedly “horseplaying” in the school’s bathroom when one of their jackets got caught on a stall door hook. The student could not get free, and the other student left the bathroom to get help from the staff.
Administrators responded, and staff called 911 for “additional precautionary medical support.” Burke also noted that the initial 911 report resulted in a first responder call that shared a possible suicide attempt occurred; however, this was not the case.
After the child was taken to the hospital, a woman claiming to be the child’s mother took to social media to discuss what she said happened in a post that has since gained a lot of attention. The post also made references to bullying.
DC News Now has reached out to the woman but has not yet heard back.
After the post began gaining traction, Maria Navarro, the superintendent of Charles County Public Schools, addressed the public’s concern regarding the incident in a letter on Sunday. She also said that the child who was hospitalized is now home.
“I have seen comments online stating that the school and CCPS are covering up what happened. This is not true. The principal nor the school system are hiding anything. Rather, we are sharing what information we can while we conduct a full investigation,” she wrote, in part.
Navarro also expressed concerns over misinformation and threats toward staff, writing that “speculation about what did or did not happen as well as the circulation of misinformation impedes the investigation process” and that “while the information circulating is alarming and involves heavy emotions, it does not warrant threats against staff or other involved.”
Diane Richardson, a spokesperson for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, told DC News Now that officers are working with school administrators and initiated an investigation on Friday to assist.
“We are in the process of getting additional details that may help get a better understanding of what happened,” she said.
Navarro said that any student who violates the CCPS Code of Student Conduct faces disciplinary consequences and that police are working with school officials to confirm the details of the investigation.
