An employee at Morgan County Middle School landed behind bars last week for bringing alcohol to campus, a serious infraction that sharply contrasts with the school's code of conduct. Nicole Lambert, a 39-year-old paraprofessional, was arrested after a student mistakenly consumed what was thought to be soda from her bottle, which actually contained vodka. The startling incident unfolded on May 2, sparking concern and immediate action from school authorities.

Lambert's mistake triggered a chain of events, starting with a male student grabbing what he assumed was a Mountain Dew from her possession. The school sprung into action moments after the student informed another teacher about the unexpected taste of the liquid, according to WGAU Radio. The student's realization led to Lambert being escorted to the principal’s office, where she admitted the presence of alcohol in the water bottle and failed a breathalyzer test, showing a blood alcohol concentration of 0.259 – more than three times the legal driving limit.

The Morgan County Sheriff's Office conducted further investigation and found an empty water bottle in the trash can, still holding the scent of an alcoholic beverage, which the student had dispensed. As the legal process took its course, Lambert faced charges for disorderly conduct involving public drunkenness and was taken to the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office Adult Detention Facility. Meanwhile, the school severed ties with the former employee, saying in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, "We can confirm that the individual is no longer employed with our district."

The school issued a stern reminder of its commitment to student and staff safety, revealing zero tolerance towards any act that could put that safety in jeopardy. "The safety of our staff and students is paramount, and we take all incidents seriously," the school stated in a communique sent to parents and guardians, highlighting its obligation to uphold standards of security and propriety, as reported by WGAU Radio.