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The Harlem Magic Masters hoopster sparked chaos when he smoked a marijuana vape in the school bathroom.
Students and staff were forced outside in freezing temperatures after a smoke alarm sounded; Magic performer kicked out.
A Harlem Magic Masters performer smoked a marijuana vape pen in the boys locker room at Selden Middle School Friday morning, triggering a smoke alarm that forced students and staff out into freezing temperatures during first period, the school district’s top administrator said.
[Correction: The initial version of this report incorrectly named the professional entertainment basketball team involved. GLI regrets the error.]
“The principal said unless one of you take responsibility, then the event can’t go on. And one person took the responsibility, and they left the school. And that enabled the activity to take place,” Middle Country Central School District Superintendent Roberta Gerold told Greater Long Island. ‘The kids were really looking forward to it.”
The Magic, a touring entertainment basketball group that mixes athleticism with comedy, were at the school for a brief, in-school performance.
Gerold confirmed the alarm was triggered at 7:36 a.m. during first period after a Magic performer puffed on a marijuana vape pen inside the locker room bathroom, a decision that nearly saw the second-period show go up in smoke.
“It was a smoke detector, not a vape detector,” Gerold said. “A vape detector would not have activated the fire alarm system.”
Administrators moved quickly, Gerold said, confronting the performers and laying down a clear ultimatum: own it, or pack it up.
“One person took full responsibility,” she said. “He exited the building, which is exactly what we expected.”
That decision salvaged the visit — sort of.
Second period went on with a stripped-down version of the show: one Harlem Magic performer and a DJ, according to people at the event. No charges were filed and the performer involved has not been publicly identified.
Gerold said the district did not hesitate to follow safety protocols, even though the evacuation sent students outside in bitter cold.
“When the alarm went off, the building was evacuated,” she said. “Because the fire department responded so quickly, students were able to return inside in under 10 minutes.”
Selden Fire Chief Scott Nowakowski told Greater Long Island that two assistant fire chiefs arrived within minutes, investigated the source of the alarm, and gave the all-clear before fire trucks reached the school.
Correction: The Harlem Magic were vetted by the Department of Education, not BOCES, as initially reported.
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