Parents of six students at a Spring Independent School District elementary school are now suing teachers nearly two years after they allegedly gave the children melatonin sleep patches without parental consent.
The lawsuit centers on events at Northgate Crossing Elementary School, where parents say teachers used “sleepy” adhesive patches on pre-kindergarten students during class time. According to the suit, the patches were given without parental knowledge or authorization.
The allegations first surfaced in September 2024, when one parent said her daughter returned home from school with a sticker that her teacher had allegedly described as something “to go to sleep.” After the incident was reported, Spring Independent School District placed two teachers and two paraprofessionals on administrative leave and opened an internal investigation.
As Texas Scorecard previously reported, parents soon discovered that the stickers were melatonin-based sleep-aid patches marketed toward adults. Multiple parents raised concerns after noticing changes in their children’s behavior, including excessive tiredness, increased crying, and loss of appetite. District policy prohibits staff from administering any prescription or nonprescription medication, supplements, or herbal substances to students without proper authorization.
The parents, represented by the Buzbee Law Firm, are seeking more than $2 million in damages. According to the filing, those damages include claims of physical and mental pain, physical impairment, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of peace of mind. The suit also seeks compensation for medical care, counseling, psychiatric treatment, and other related expenses.
In the lawsuit, parents describe the use of the patches as “corporal punishment in the form of melatonin,” arguing that the substance was used to control student behavior rather than address any medical need. The filing further alleges that teachers placed multiple patches on some children and, in certain instances, reused patches that had already been worn by other students.
When the allegations first became public, outrage quickly spread through the school community. Parents criticized the district for what they described as a lack of transparency and communication, and protests were held outside the campus demanding accountability.
At the time, Spring ISD acknowledged that the allegations violated board policy and confirmed that the matter had been referred to the district’s police department for investigation. District officials emphasized that student safety was their top priority but provided limited details while the investigation was ongoing.
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