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Tompkins County Sheriff's office

Tompkins County Sheriff's Deputies responded Sunday to a report of an underage drinking party on Buck Road.  At 11:19 deputies arrived to find about 50 teenagers running from all sides of the house, including a girl who was so heavily intoxicated she couldn't walk on her own.  Upon investigating Deputies charged John David H Mckane, 23, with Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  School officials responded Monday, contacting families and local authorities.

"We obviously disapprove of this behavior, but out biggest concern is the health and welfare of our students and how we are going to have our students work on making better decisions for themselves and their friends," Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso told the Board of Education Monday evening.  "And develop a resilience to say no to such behavior and support each other."

Deputies assisted a number of Lansing Central School students in finding safe rides home from the party.  Mckane posted bail and was released.

Both the The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office and School officials said that those who host underage drinking parties will be held responsible, and those who attend also face consequences.

"There are immediate consequences: legal consequences, and athletic consequences," Pettograsso said.  "And surely your reputation is a consequence, too.  That sticks with you.  We talk about your online reputation and things like that."

Pettograsso said a planned 'community conversation' in May will address students making healthy decisions, and the results of the recent TCST BOCES Youth Development Survey will be shared with the Lansing community.

"We'll try to work together as a school community and larger community to tackle this problem," she said.  "It's a little bigger than we think, unfortunately.  Sad to hear that, but something that we will work on."

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