A student from McGarity Elementary School in Paulding County died Thursday during a class field trip to Carlton Farms in Rockmart, according to school officials and police.
What Happened: Police were called to the farm at 12:16 p.m. Thursday after reports of a child not breathing. First responders found the student unresponsive and performed life-saving measures. The child was taken to a hospital where she died. On-scene witnesses say the child drowned, though school and police officials have not confirmed this.
What’s Next: The Polk County Police Department is investigating the death. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is helping with the case.
School Response: Parents can keep their children home today with an excused absence. The school will provide counseling services for students and staff who need support.
McGarity Elementary Principal Jamesa Hodge said counselors will be available at school. She encouraged parents to talk with their children about the loss.
The Sources:
- Letter from McGarity Elementary School Principal Jamesa Hodge
- Polk County Police Department statement
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
