Thursday, March 29, 2001
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- Seventh- and eighth-graders at Lincoln High School could face expulsion after being accused of selling and distributing prescription drugs on school grounds.
Superintendent Francis Keller said the pupils brought Prozac and Ritalin from home and were selling and giving the pills to other pupils.
"This was a ripple effect. One or two kids brought the drugs to school and were passing them on. Some were sold and others were given away," he said.
Junior/Senior High School Principal Donald Costa said there are eight boys and girls involved, but only those selling or giving away the drugs face expulsion under school policy. Hearings are set for April 9.
Others found with drugs are given an automatic 10 days' suspension from school and are referred to drug counseling, officials said.
All eight were suspended from school on Monday when the pills came to school administrators' attention, Costa said.
The superintendent said police were called immediately when the prescription drugs were discovered.
Ellwood City Police Chief William Betz said no juvenile charges have been filed and police are still looking into the matter.