Pubdate: Sat, 09 Dec 2006 Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) Copyright: 2006 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340 Author: Kristen A. Graham, Inquirer Staff Writer ELITE SCHOOL TURNS UP DRUGS A Search at Moorestown High Found "Significant" Amounts of Cocaine, Amphetamines and Other Drugs, Officials Say. A search at one of the most elite public high schools in the region turned up "significant" amounts of cocaine, amphetamines, diet pills, marijuana, prescription drugs, and drug paraphernalia, school authorities said last night. The drugs were found at Moorestown High - a school flush with Advanced Placement courses, where 94 percent of students go on to college and where most participate in extracurricular activities. After an investigation by school officials, six students were questioned by authorities Wednesday, searched, and given drug tests and arrested, interim district Superintendent Timothy Brennan said. More information, including details of the search, was not immediately available from Moorestown police. The students' names were not released. Officials said they come from a range of grades at the school. Brennan declined to say what caused school officials to become suspicious of the students, saying it could jeopardize the investigation. But he did say Moorestown has a serious, potentially wide-ranging matter on its hands. "I sense that the results of the high school administration's investigation are an indication of a larger problem," Brennan said. The mood in Moorestown High, which has about 1,300 students, was edgy, Brennan said. "There's been more of a sense of unrest at the high school," he said. "Some of the students are upset and surprised that this happened at their school. Some are wondering what the future holds." Next week, Brennan said, he plans to speak to each class at the middle and high school level to tell them of ramped-up drug- and alcohol-enforcement policies. He will answer questions and encourage anyone with a substance-abuse problem to notify a trusted teacher or counselor. In a letter sent home to parents and other members of the school community, Brennan used strong language - phrases like "zero tolerance," and "expulsion" - to warn of tough consequences for those found to be distributing drugs. He also indicated that even things as simple as a box of cold medicine will be scrutinized: Any student required to have prescription or over-the-counter medicine must alert the school nurse, Brennan said. "If a student is in possession of a bag, bottle, box, etc. without having notified the school nurse and it contains such substances, that student has violated Board policy and is also in trouble," Brennan wrote. He would not comment on whether the school would notify colleges any involved seniors had applied to of their infractions. The school board's policy says that if a student is found to be in possession or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, he or she must serve a 10-day suspension, which can be reduced to five days if he or she agrees to a year's intervention including random drug tests and meetings with a counselor, among other measures. Tracy Bartlett, a mother of high school children and president of the Moorestown High Home and School Association, said the community was reeling from the news. "I know that all the parents are totally shocked and saddened by the kids making wrong decisions and bad decisions," Bartlett said. She did not elaborate. While Moorestown is best known for its sterling academics and fine athletics, three years ago it made national headlines for another scandal. Then-senior Blair Hornstine sued the school district to be named sole valedictorian. She ultimately won her suit, but news that she plagiarized newspaper articles caused Harvard University to rescind its offer of admission. But Brennan, who has been acting schools chief for four months, said that despite the current cloud, he is still proud to be associated with Moorestown. "I've been so impressed by what a fine school district it is," he said. "It's not that we don't have problems, but we're defined by how we handle the problems: collaboratively, standing by the children, protecting the children." To read the letter from interim Superintendent Timothy Brennan go to http://go.philly.com/drugletter - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine