The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has confirmed that four students from Mound STEM School were taken to a hospital Monday morning after they ingested an unknown substance.
The school is home to students in Pre-K to 8th grade.
Cleveland EMS said the initial call for help was for a student who potentially overdosed on an edible. So far, CMSD nor police have been able to verify the substance.
CMSD Spokesperson Candice Grose said in a statement that the district's Safety and Security Team "acted swiftly after being alerted about the incident and contacted Emergency Medical Services."
The statement also said, "Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students is our utmost priority, and we will continue to monitor their wellbeing throughout the day."
While the district said the children's conditions are unknown at this time, Cleveland EMS said the students were "stable."
Debby Crayton spoke to News 5 outside the school around 1 p.m. She said she rushed to the school to check on her two nieces, who she has custody of after a relative saw a post on social media about an incident at the school.
"I jumped up and I came around here but it was so calm," Crayton said. "I'm like it couldn't have just happened. They (school officials) said it happened around 9 o'clock this morning."
Crayton said due to the magnitude of the situation she expected a phone call or email from the school or CMDS shortly after it occurred.
News 5 asked if a notification went out.
"No notification. No nothing," Crayton said. "I feel like all parents should know regardless if their child was involved or not. There's a possibility."
Danica Hampton has two children who attend the school. She was visiting on other business and said she learned of the unknown substance incident from News 5.
"It's very concerning because where are they getting it from? And who else are they giving it to?" Hampton said.
Monday afternoon, CMSD said the incident remains under investigation, and letters were going home to inform parents of what occurred.
While a few parents told News 5 that edible gummies were involved, that information has yet to be confirmed.
Hampton said if it's determined that drugs did get into the hands of students, there needs to be stiff consequences for anyone involved.
Both Crayton and Hampton said they have conversations with their kids about speaking up if they see something wrong.
Crayton wants to see the school implement new rules.
"I think they need to do better by checking these ids. No outside food. No outside anything. It's sad to have to say- but no outside food," Crayton said.
