Carrollton Farmers Branch ISD to Hold Parent Meeting After Fentanyl Death

After a fentanyl overdose and three deaths that shocked Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School DistrictSchool leaders and parents raise awareness among students

There will be a parent-teacher meeting on Thursday evening where they will have the opportunity to hear from health professionals and ask questions.

One of the speakers is Stefanovich, R. L. Turner School Resource Officer. Stefanovich is a police officer with the Carrollton Police Department and has become a familiar face in RL Turner.

“The most important thing my job entails is building relationships with students, school partners and parents,” said Stefanovic. “Be a positive role model for students. Be a positive role model for teachers“.

Before becoming a police officer, Stefanovic worked as a teacher for four years.

“I kind of understand how the school works, but I also understand the police side of it,” Stefanovic said. “Most of my work is mentoring and teaching.”

Federal agents identified RL Turner High as a school attended by several teenage drug dealers who sold fentanyl pills to their classmates. Some of these pills have led to overdose and death.

This week, Carrollton Farmers ISD Branch added random search for dogs on middle and high school campuses.

“The Carrollton Police Department does not send dogs to school. This is a private organization hired by the district school,” Stefanovich said.

In an eleven-page sworn letter, investigators detailed the case against the Carrollton couple, 21-year-old Luis Navarrete and 29-year-old Magali Mejia Cano, who were involved in the overdose of nine teenagers, three of whom were fatal.

A spokesperson for the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD could not confirm whether Navarrete was a school district graduate.

“In accordance with our FL (LOCAL) board policy, we cannot disclose enrollment status for any purpose other than school-sponsored purposes,” a spokesperson said in an email.

Navarrete and Mejia Cano are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess in order to distribute a controlled substance. No additional arrests have been made and DEA agents continue to follow the lead. This is where parents play a crucial role, Stefanovic says.

“I can’t do my job without the support of my parents,” Stefanovic said. “A huge part of what I do is working with parents when it comes to their children. We are working together to access their social media.”

Officer Stefanovic hopes all CFBISD parents will attend Thursday’s fentanyl open meeting, where school staff will discuss topics such as side effects, criminal charges and why parents should review their children’s social media accounts.

“We need everyone and everyone, everyone and everyone to come and ask questions,” Stefanovic said.

He said that dealing with the country’s fentanyl crisis should be a joint effort between school authorities, local authorities, parents and students.

“At the dinner table, just ask for your child’s phone and check it together. Collaborate on this,” Stefanovich said. “Perhaps there are upset parents. There may be upset children. But conversation is so important and it will lead to success in school. This will avoid some of the problems we face.”

Stefanovich said social media could play a key role in determining who was involved in the distribution of drugs to minors and the fentanyl ring, which led to nine overdoses, three of which were fatal.

“We know that it ultimately has something to do with the adult. And we work together at the school to find out who this adult is. After all, that is my goal. This does not mean that minors do not participate,” Stefanovic said.

The public meeting will be held on Thursday, February 9, starting at 7:00 pm at the Educational Services Complex, Building B, Texas Room.

The school district will have an English-to-Spanish translation system that members can use as needed.