SCHOOL: AD ALLEGING DRUG SALES 'UNFAIR'

A Park Ridge parent alleged in a newspaper ad that students can buy heroin
and crystal meth at Maine South High School, prompting an uproar at the
high-achieving northwest suburban school.

"We've never had any incident that suggests that heroin or meth is being
sold or distributed in our hallways," said Principal David Claypool. "It's
just an unfair accusation."

The ad appeared Thursday in the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, a Pioneer Press
paper owned by Hollinger International, a company that also owns the
Chicago Sun-Times.

By Friday, the school was abuzz.

"It was irresponsible," said senior John Mallory. He said drugs are not for
sale at the school. "About 99 percent of the school doesn't do heroin or
crystal meth; it's a tiny pocket, and the deans and administration are
doing a good job trying to combat it."

The author, Dominic Vecchio, said several students he met in town have told
him drugs were for sale at the school. Vecchio, who has grammar school-age
children, bought the $900 ad to "get the ball rolling. . . . Maybe it's a
little drastic but I don't want people to wait. How many more kids have to
die before someone does something?"

The 15-year-old son of a friend of Vecchio's died of a heroin overdose last
fall, he said. Park Ridge police say there have been some cases of heroin
possession or selling among high school-age students in recent years, but
there have been no crystal meth-related cases. Exact numbers were not
available.

Paper Defends Running It

Administrators sent letters to parents and the newspaper denying the
charges and outlining ongoing efforts to combat drug and alcohol abuse
among students.

"We have students, just like any other, who make unhealthy decisions, but
we have 2,500 fantastic kids," Claypool said. "The ad is clearly a product
of someone who hasn't taken the time to get to know our school and the
things we're doing."

Officials also took issue with the newspaper for running the ad.

"The First Amendment gives people the right to speak their mind and we have
the right to accept advertising," said Larry Green, Pioneer Press publisher
and president. "We fulfilled our obligation by labeling it an ad, using a
different font and including the name of the purchaser in the ad."