QUOTE
Teacher Drank Poisoned Water
Instructor at career center said caustic substance had been put in her bottled water.
Georgette Senter
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - A 48-year-old computer instructor with Michigan City Area Schools' A.K. Smith Career Center filed a report with city police Friday, Oct. 26, after doctors at St. Anthony Memorial confirmed she had come into contact with a highly caustic substance that had been put into a bottle of water on her desk.
According to hospital emergency room reports provided by the teacher, Diane Britton, her mouth and lips were blistered. According to a police report, she had had eaten lunch that day in her classroom and left a half-full bottle of sports water on her desk.
The report came to light only recently, after members of Britton's family contacted The News-Dispatch.
Britton told The News-Dispatch that she left the classroom and was in the hall speaking with several students when one of her students arrived carrying a silver gift bag.
"I stopped him, asking what was in the bag," she said. "He told me a mother board [computer equipment]. I did not look in the bag or question him more, he just went into the classroom where he was the only person in there until just before class began."
As she began class, she took a drink from the bottle. "As soon as it hit my lips I felt grit," she told police. "I turned and spat it all out right on the floor."
She told police she then asked the class if anyone had tampered with the bottle and asked what had they put in the water.
At first no one in the class responded.
She then notified her superior, Karen Robinson, director of the A.K. Smith Career Center. Robinson declined to comment when contacted by The News-Dispatch.
After students initially did not responded to Britton about her water bottle, she said that before class ended for the day a male student asked her if her lips and mouth felt numb. A female student who overheard the question asked the student, "Why would you ask that?"
Now, 10 days after the incident, Michigan City Area Schools officials and the director of the A.K. Smith Center declined to talk about what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of students and school personnel.
Michigan City police said they cannot comment on an open investigation.
The director of the A.K. Smith Career Center took the contents of the water bottle from Britton the day of the incident and kept it in her office at the center. Police retrieved the bottle on Oct. 29, and turned it over to the Indiana State Police crime lab.
Police say it could take as long as two years to get a full report because the lab is so backed up with cases.
Britton returned to class the following Monday, missed school that Tuesday because of a relapse of burning, but has since been in class every day.
Britton said she is concerned that the student that may have been involved in the incident remains in her class. She also said that during afternoon class Monday Detective Sean Steele came to the school and spoke with several students.
Betsy Kohn, spokeswoman for MCAS, said Monday that the administration is now aware of this incident and that it is being fully investigated.
"Until the investigation is complete I cannot make any comments," Kohn said.
Contact Georgette Senter at gsenter@thenewsdispatch.com
Instructor at career center said caustic substance had been put in her bottled water.
Georgette Senter
The News-Dispatch
MICHIGAN CITY - A 48-year-old computer instructor with Michigan City Area Schools' A.K. Smith Career Center filed a report with city police Friday, Oct. 26, after doctors at St. Anthony Memorial confirmed she had come into contact with a highly caustic substance that had been put into a bottle of water on her desk.
According to hospital emergency room reports provided by the teacher, Diane Britton, her mouth and lips were blistered. According to a police report, she had had eaten lunch that day in her classroom and left a half-full bottle of sports water on her desk.
The report came to light only recently, after members of Britton's family contacted The News-Dispatch.
Britton told The News-Dispatch that she left the classroom and was in the hall speaking with several students when one of her students arrived carrying a silver gift bag.
"I stopped him, asking what was in the bag," she said. "He told me a mother board [computer equipment]. I did not look in the bag or question him more, he just went into the classroom where he was the only person in there until just before class began."
As she began class, she took a drink from the bottle. "As soon as it hit my lips I felt grit," she told police. "I turned and spat it all out right on the floor."
She told police she then asked the class if anyone had tampered with the bottle and asked what had they put in the water.
At first no one in the class responded.
She then notified her superior, Karen Robinson, director of the A.K. Smith Career Center. Robinson declined to comment when contacted by The News-Dispatch.
After students initially did not responded to Britton about her water bottle, she said that before class ended for the day a male student asked her if her lips and mouth felt numb. A female student who overheard the question asked the student, "Why would you ask that?"
Now, 10 days after the incident, Michigan City Area Schools officials and the director of the A.K. Smith Center declined to talk about what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of students and school personnel.
Michigan City police said they cannot comment on an open investigation.
The director of the A.K. Smith Career Center took the contents of the water bottle from Britton the day of the incident and kept it in her office at the center. Police retrieved the bottle on Oct. 29, and turned it over to the Indiana State Police crime lab.
Police say it could take as long as two years to get a full report because the lab is so backed up with cases.
Britton returned to class the following Monday, missed school that Tuesday because of a relapse of burning, but has since been in class every day.
Britton said she is concerned that the student that may have been involved in the incident remains in her class. She also said that during afternoon class Monday Detective Sean Steele came to the school and spoke with several students.
Betsy Kohn, spokeswoman for MCAS, said Monday that the administration is now aware of this incident and that it is being fully investigated.
"Until the investigation is complete I cannot make any comments," Kohn said.
Contact Georgette Senter at gsenter@thenewsdispatch.com