BAKING SODA 'DRUG DEAL' BROKEN UP

Reuther Middle Pupils Accused of Trading Packet That Looked Like
Drugs for Cash May Be Suspended.

ROCHESTER -- Two 13-year-old students at Reuther Middle School may
be suspended after they were involved in an exchange of baking soda
wrapped in an aluminum foil packet to resemble an illegal drug.

Police said one of the students was selling it and the other had it
in her possession, and was going to pay $7 for it.

Neither has returned to school since the Oct. 4 incident.

The matter is being handled by school administration, and one of the
possible disciplinary actions, going by the code of conduct, could
be long-term suspension.

But school spokeswoman Deb Hartman said no action has been taken.

And even though baking soda isn't illegal, the matter was taken
seriously, according to school liaison officer Mark Woliung.

"Because the student offered to pay money, it became a drug deal," he said.

Woliung said the parents of both students have been supportive.

"But we still have a zero tolerance policy, so we have to deal with
it," he said.

Apparently, the kids think baking soda can be used to get high, Woliung said.

"There's a myth that if it is mixed with a special potion and
smoked, it would have some way of making someone get high," Woliung said.

"It's typical for middle school. They're so naive. They hear things
and they want to be cool. But I don't feel there's a major drug ring
going on there."

Woliung said assistant principal Chuck May saw the 13-year-old girl
carrying the foil packet in the cafeteria.

"He caught her before she had a chance to pay," Woliung said.

Woliung took the baking soda back to his office and had it tested.

"It didn't come out positive and the way it foamed, it was obviously
just baking soda," he said. "It didn't appear to be mixed with anything."

Administrators talked with both students and their parents were
called to the school.

"The boy admitted he gave the packet to the girl, and she admitted
receiving it," Woliung said.