High School, Pot Brownies, and False Accusations

Cassville R-IV school district in Cassville, MO has a well thought out website. It's clean, crisp, and shows smiling students and faculty. It's probably a school that if you were moving, you'd consider it for your children.

Maybe not after you learn more.

On February 26th, at 11:48 AM, a mom receives a phone call regarding her daughter. Pretty much every parent's heart dropping moment, especially in middle and high school. Between regular accidents that can happen, school shootings, and natural disasters, most parents cringe when the school's number flashes across the caller ID. This day was no different.

Cassville school quickly informed her that her eighth-grade daughter had been caught eating a pot brownie and she would be suspended for 10 days. Not as bad as it could havebeen, but still understandably upsetting.

The next portion of this article has a direct quote taken and copied from the mother's Facebook post, which can be seen and shared below.

"Upon arriving at the school, I was told they checked her pupils and they were very large. She also couldn't track a finger. They stated she consumed a "pot brownie" and that SHE WAS HIGH. Lies. She was never checked. Her eyes were never examined.Our school system does random drug test. She had been tested before during a random selection and was negative. Since they were claiming she had drugs at school and was high, I demanded they drug test her. They refused. I asked several times. They out right said they would not drug test her. They refused to show evidence as to these drugs. They were told there was weed in the brownies and that is what they went off. No proof. Just word of another student.They told me they don't have to have proof, they only need suspicion. The only thing they had was the word of another student.Upon leaving the school, I withdrew Mary for home schooling until this mess could be settled.I personally took my daughter in to the lab for a 12 panel drug screen. She tested ALL NEGATIVE. After the school claims she had and consumed pot and was high at school. The school was called about her testing negative.Her suspension still stands.Yesterday, we got a letter in the mail stating they changed her suspension from 10 to 10 days PLUS an additional 45 days (55 days total) FOR possession and use of drugs at school.The school won't listen. She wasn't high. She wasn't in possession of drugs. But she is being punished.She went from a cheerleader to being labeled a pot head.She has lost friends over this.She has been labeled a pot head.The rumors are going around the school.She no longer gets to walk at her 8th grade graduation.She is obviously being accused and punished over total he say she say. I have proof she wasn't high. But the school won't listen."

Now there's obviously alot of things disturbing about this story.

However, I want to break them down into sections.

So the school regularly drug tests, something you can confirm with a google search. Try "Cassville school drug test" OR "Cassville R-IV drug test." You can even find their permission slip and a news story from 2012 that outlines how a four panel drug test isn't good enough so they upped it to a 12 panel. Yet upon suspicion of students eating a "pot brownie," they refused to drug test her?

Why? I mean obviously, they were afraid they were wrong.

Next part. They didn't call the police. Now I don't know about Missouri, but I'm pretty sure in most states and school districts if a student, especially underage is caught with a drug they typically call the cops. Why? Because they normally want to know where they are getting the drugs and how and with what money.

Then the precious golden part of this story.

When faced with proof that she was not high and did not eat a pot brownie, confirmed not once but twice with a professional lab the day of February 26th and the day after, the school refuses to reinstate her into school AND upped the suspension days.

Holly has since met with the superintendent and they have offered her daughter to return to school by serving ISS( In school suspension) however that requires, staying suspended, catching up on homework and still being excluded from extracurriculars and events such as school dances and her eighth-grade graduation.

So they have falsely accused her, she's already been serving out the suspension and they won't fix it when she's been shown to be innocent not once, but twice.

To add more fuel to the fire if you scroll through the comments on the facebook post you will quickly notice that this isn't a singular event. Several kids now older or adults have been suspended for false accusations in the past. As well as other students within and around the same time as Holly's daughter. Though I am not sure of the innocence or guilt of those other kids as I haven't spoken to their parents.

This isn't just wrong and this doesn't just effect Holly's daughter now. This will be on her school record forever. She has lost friends, her boyfriend, and her reputation over being accused of something she didn't do and being told she's still guilty even after proving her innocence.

Holly's daughter shouldn't have to serve ISS or OSS. She should be back in school with a public apology in front of the school in the form of an assembly. It should be proven that her school record is clean and past missed assignments should be credited with full marks.

There is something very shady going on in Cassville schools and if its not shady at the very least its wrong and sickening. They are affecting a girl's future because they won't and can't admit they are wrong. She shouldn't lose friends or be excluded from activities for something she didn't do, which is why the ISS and OSS are being fought and denied. Local news stations wouldn't pick up the story. So I am. Please share this article or the original Facebook post with friends family and even business professionals.

The Morales family is looking for an attorney to represent them in a lawsuit against the school district and to help them get their daughter back in school. You can contact Holly through her Facebook page if you are interested in representing them pro bono until a settlement is reached with the school district or within a courtroom.