Chaperones accused of drinking at prom for Prince George's Co. school; principal placed on leave

HYATTSVILLE, Md. - Three administrators, including the principal, at a Prince George's County high school are on administrative leave while the school looks into allegations that chaperones were drinking during the school's prom.

Northwestern held its prom on May 18 at a brand new hotel across the street from the University of Maryland.

An emergency staff meeting was held at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville Wednesday afternoon where an announcement was made to staff about the administrators being placed on leave.

According to Prince George's County Public Schools spokesperson John White, the school system is investigating a claim that school administrators, who should have been sober and chaperoning the event, were instead drinking at the hotel bar.

White confirmed that Northwestern High School principal Carlene Murray was placed on administrative leave along with assistant principals Christopher Burrows and Patricia Duffy.

White said Duffy and Burrows are accused of drinking while Murray was put on leave for her conduct related to the prom. However, she is not accused of drinking at the event.

FOX 5 reached out to all three administrators through email, but have not received a response as of Wednesday evening.

A source familiar with the administration at the school said Burrows and Duffy were placed on leave immediately after the prom and Murray was placed on leave on Monday.

Hyattsville police confirmed a school resource officer went to the hotel after the prom and obtained footage from surveillance cameras.

A teacher at the school, who asked to remain unidentified, was at Wednesday's emergency meeting at the school. He said he was not at the prom, but the allegations did not surprise him.

"We have lots of evidence with film, witnesses and people who were there, so it is not surprising at all," he said.