No new needles have been found on the grounds of a Vernon elementary school.
Close to 80 needles – mostly unused – were found Friday morning at Harwood Elementary.
“There have been no needles found at our school,” said principal Lance Johnson. “Our vice-principal walked the grounds on Saturday morning and I walked the grounds before school this (Monday) morning.”
School staff searched the entire grounds, parking lot entrances, parking lot and the school’s back alley all before 8 a.m. Friday. Students were kept off the grass and playground equipment areas, and staff let them stay on the asphalt for their safety until the morning bell rang at 8:25 a.m.
Students were kept in at recess. Cleanup conducted by Vernon School District staff was done before noon and some classes went outside after rain stopped falling.
“Harwood School handled things very well,” said school district superintendent Joe Rogers.
Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP liaison officer Const. Dan Cocks and Interior Health officials have followed up with the school.
“We’ve told the students if they see needles, leave them in place, alert a teacher immediately and don’t touch them,” said Cocks, adding the file remains under investigation.
Cocks has no answer for how that many needles got to the school grounds.
“Our downtown enforcement unit has been spreading the word with intravenous users that whoever is responsible is to cease and desist,” said Cocks. “They’ve been told they are looking at criminal negligence or whatever the Criminal Code of Canada bears will be brought upon the individual.”
Rogers said only once before, back in the fall, has there been an issue of a needle or needles being found on school grounds.
“This allows us to have more contact with the RCMP and Interior Health on how we can together to have all the pieces in place to make sure students and staff are kept safe,” he said.