EDUCATION
THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 - 20, 2019 • Page 8
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STONE MOUNTAIN
Incident report complete after student burned in school, lawsuit looming
'We'll see you all in court'
L. Chris Stewart speaks at a Nov. 6 press conference regarding a student who was burned in class. Photo by Taylor Robins
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School
District (DCSD) completed
an incident report Nov. 5
that includes details of how
a student suffered third-
degree bums during an
Aug. 6 chemical explosion
in class and disciplinary
recommendations for the
teacher who is blamed for
the explosion.
Malachi McFadden,
a 15-year-old Redan High
School student, received
third-degree bums in
Bridgette Blowe’s
chemistry class when she
allegedly lit a dollar bill
and poured ethanol onto the
flame, which resulted in a
fire that burned McFadden.
The incident took place on
the second day of the new
school year.
Stewart Trial Attorneys
held a press conference
Nov. 6 to discuss the
incident report and disclose
that DCSD Superintendent
R. Stephen Green
recommended that Blowe be
terminated and that Redan
High School Principal
Janice Boger recommended
that Blowe be suspended
and then retrained. Blowe
is currently working at
the school as a chemistry
teacher.
The incident report
obtained by The Champion
Newspaper determined that
the experiment found on a
science magic trick website
was done, “without proper
safety precaution and in a
reckless manner.”
“We hoped that the
investigation was going
to be fair, we hoped that it
was going to be thorough
and it was,” Attorney L.
Chris Stewart said. “This
is one of the rare situations
where a school district has
investigated itself and found
itself at fault. What we
didn’t see in the results was
findings of fault for people
above her.”
According to Stewart,
the experiment was
uploaded to the teacher’s
online lesson plan and
Blowe asked the head
of her department for
ethanol. Ethanol is a
flammable liquid. Blowe
unsuccessfully attempted
the same experiment the day
prior with rubbing alcohol.
The explosion that involved
the ethanol resulted in
third-degree bums on
McFadden’s face, neck,
arms and hands.
According to Stewart,
the response the attorney’s
office and McFadden’s
family has received from
DCSD is, “We’re sorry it
happened. There’s nothing
we can do.”
McFadden will need
cosmetic reconstmctive
surgery, according to
Stewart.
“[DCSD] tried to say
they some insurance that
can help,” said Stewart.
“That’s not true. That
insurance for this situation
is secondary to his parents’
coverage. So after his
parents have to spend all
their money and go broke,
then maybe [DCSD’s]
insurance will kick in.”
“He can’t just walk
around like that for the rest
of his life,” said Stewart.
“That’s not fair.”
According to Stewart,
McFadden is “happy, bright
and went to homecoming.”
The Champion
Newspaper reported in
September that McFadden is
being homeschooled—until
possibly next semester—and
began physical therapy in
September. According to
Stewart, McFadden will
start psychological therapy
soon to get him ready to
interact with peers.
“The amazing thing
about [McFadden] is he
hasn’t gotten bitter,” said
Stewart. “He keeps asking
when he can go back to
school... that’s the kind of
kid they’re dealing with.”
Stewart Trial Attorneys
plans to file a lawsuit for
an undisclosed amount
of money, according to
Stewart.
“[DCSD doesn’t] want
to sit down and talk,” said
Stewart. “We have asked to
sit down and talk a bunch
of times. We let them come
meet [McFadden] and see
his bums.”
No formal apology has
been made to McFadden
by DCSD, according to
Stewart.
“[DCSD], we’ll see you
all in court,” said Stewart.
Officials investigate middle school self-mutilation incident
BY TAYLOR ROBINS
taylor@dekalbchamp.com
DeKalb County School District (DCSD)
officials have confirmed a Nov. 5 self-
mutilation incident that involves Freedom
Middle School students.
DCSD officials said 11 students who
attend Freedom Middle School—located in
Stone Mountain—participated in self-harm.
Officials said that health and safety of students
are important to the district and the district has
provided counselors and social workers to the
school for additional support.
DCSD officials said they do not know
when the incident happened during the day. The
students’ injuries are not life-threatening.
An investigation is ongoing, according to
DCSD.
