A capsule containing fentanyl was found outside an elementary school in Southington on Wednesday, school officials said.
The broken pill capsule was found by a staff member of Kelley Elementary School on the sidewalk outside of the building, according to a message issued by Principal Marilyn Kahl to the school community.
Kahl said officers with the Southington Police Department responded to the school and seized the pill. A test that was carried out determined that the capsule contained fentanyl, according to Kahl.
Kahl said physical education classes originally planned to be held outside were kept in the building as police used a K-9 to sniff for any other potential drugs outside of the school and in the hallways. They did not find anything.
“Please take time this evening and have a conversation with your child(ren) pertaining to the critical importance to never touch a pill or capsule found anywhere,” Kahl told families. “They should notify an adult immediately.
“It is sad that conversations such as this need to occur, and today is a stark reminder that we are not insulated from such threats,” Kahl said.
Superintendent of Schools Steven G. Madancy shared Kahl’s message with the entire school community.
“Given that this incident could have occurred on any of our school grounds, I am sharing this message with all of our staff and the broader school community, requesting that you reinforce the same message that Mrs. Kahl shared with her families this afternoon,” Madancy wrote.