PROVIDENCE, R.I. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A special education assistant has been suspended without pay after he allegedly brought baggies of marijuana to school as a gift for the principal of Nathanael Greene Middle School for winning principal of the month.
Michael Sheehan, 57, of Providence, allegedly handed Principal Nicole Mathis 15.5 grams of marijuana while the pair were in her office. Mathis told police the marijuana was for winning principal of the year, reports The Providence Journal.
In a statement, Providence School Department spokeswoman Christina O'Reilly said the teacher assistant "was immediately removed from school property" and suspended without pay.
The statement also said officials have no reason to believe that any students were involved.
According to the newspaper, Sheehan is charged with unlawful delivery of marijuana in a school zone. He was arraigned Monday at District Court and released on $10,000 surety bail.
For more information: Providence Journal
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STATEMENT FROM PROVIDENCE PUBLICSCHOOL DISTRICT
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Monday, September 16, 2013) – On Thursday, September 12, a teacher assistant at Greene Middle School allegedly brought a package of marijuana onto school grounds. The teacher assistant was immediately removed from school property, and upon confirmation of the package's contents by Providence Police, the individual was suspended without pay, pending conclusion of a full investigation and dismissal hearing. At this time, school and district officials have no reason to believe that any student was privy to or impacted by the teacher assistant's possession of the controlled substance. Our staff are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards, and the delivery of a controlled substance onto a school campus is an intolerable act.
Cox Media Group