Art teacher Frank Thompson, 57, faces drug and child endangerment charges, police said.
A Westfield Public Schools teacher who authorities say overdosed in a classroom at Roosevelt Intermediate School is due to appear in court next month on charges of child endangerment and drug possession, according to police.
Students found art teacher Frank Thompson, 57, unconscious on the floor of a classroom shortly after 9 a.m. on Nov. 29, police Chief Christopher Battiloro said in a statement. School resource Officer Fortunata Riga administered the opioid antidote naloxone, which he carries with him, Battiloro said.
Authorities later found drugs and drug paraphernalia in a classroom closet and on Thursday charged Thompson with endangering the welfare of children, possession of fentanyl and possession of drug paraphernalia, Battiloro said.
Thompson has been served with a complaint-summons through his attorney and is scheduled to appear at Central Judicial Processing in Elizabeth Feb. 1, at 8:30 a.m., the chief said.
Thompson has served in the Westfield Public School District for about 30 years, records show. Last year, he earned a salary of $97,720, according to the records.
Thompson’s employment status with the district was not immediately clear on Friday.
In the statement from police, González said the district could not comment on personnel matters, but added, “We will maintain a continued focus on student and staff safety and on preserving the integrity of the classroom learning environment.”
A website for the school district’s visual and performing arts department says Thompson has a bachelor’s degree in art from Kean University, came to Westfield schools directly after college, and started teaching in the elementary schools before moving to the intermediate level.
“Mr. Thompson loves teaching art because art is what he knows best and feels most passionately for,” the school website says. “In his free time he enjoys illustrating, reading, travel and spending time with his wife and two children.”