Fulton schools: All 28 students sickened on Valentine’s Day out of hospital

More than two dozen Sandtown Middle School students were taken to the hospital last week after falling ill. By Monday, Feb. 18, all students had been released from local hospitals.

More than two dozen Sandtown Middle School students were taken to the hospital last week after falling ill. By Monday, Feb. 18, all students had been released from local hospitals.

All of the Fulton County students who fell ill on Valentine’s Day have been released from local hospitals, but four days later the school district still has not determined what sickened more than two dozen students.

Fulton County Schools reported last week that 28 students from Sandtown Middle School were taken to local hospitals Thursday.

By Friday afternoon, three students remained hospitalized. On Monday afternoon, the school district reported that all of the students had been released from hospitals.

Students complained Thursday about feeling nauseated and disoriented after eating snacks and candy brought to school on Valentine's Day. The district, citing privacy concerns, has not released detailed information about the students' health conditions.

The school district reported Monday afternoon that it still had not determined the cause for the illnesses, which is being investigated by its police department.

The Fulton County Board of Health reported last week that food samples would be tested by GBI, but the state agency reported Monday it had not received materials from the school district for testing.

Fulton school district spokeswoman Susan Romanick said that the district is “taking the necessary steps to do a thorough investigation.”

“As such, there are extensive procedures in the chain of custody that ensure evidence collections are handled in a way that protects the integrity of the investigation. We appreciate our partners at the GBI and will continue to work with them throughout the investigation,” she said, in a written statement.

District offices and schools are closed Monday because of the Presidents Day holiday weekend.