Some parents of students attending Parkland Public School on Amber Street in Sault Ste. Marie were shocked and dismayed to learn today that a bag containing blue powder that may be fentanyl was found in the school parking lot.
A letter was sent home with children, today, from Mr. Dugas and Ms. Velcich, who are listed on Algoma District School Board's website as the school's principal and vice principal respectively.
The letter asked parents to talk to their children about playing safe, not picking up unknown substances, needles or broken glass and, instead, notifying their parents or teachers immediately upon arrival at home or school.
"Whoever called that in did exactly the right thing," said Const. Sonny Spina of Sault Ste. Marie Police Services. "Our officers have the training and the equipment to handle these substances safely."
He also said the small Ziploc bag with the blue powder weighed .4 grams, including the bag.
It was found in the parking lot at Parkland School and reported to police about one to two weeks ago.
Officers did an initial test, determined it could be drugs of some sort and sent it away to be tested.
Testing is expected to take some time before police can find out what the blue powder is.
"It has not definitively been identified as fentanyl," Spina told SooToday.
He also said the bag looked like it had been where it was found for some time.
"It has not been linked to any individuals and no charges have been laid."
Parents sharing the letter on social media said they were worried about their children's safety because the blue powder looked like and could be mistaken for candy.
Spina said the incident, while understandably upsetting, was also a good opportunity to educate children about how to handle unknown substances safely.