The apparent policy at Loyola Blakefield for handling drug busts without police intervention may be a rarity among private schools around Baltimore, according to an Examiner survey of 40 private schools in the region.

Parents and students told The Examiner in May that Loyola had confiscated drugs and expelled students without calling police.

The survey found that a majority of schools that agreed to talk about disciplinary procedures said police are called immediately when drugs are confiscated from students. At least 16 schools said police are called to the scene. Two others said they would “lean toward” calling police, while four said it would depend on the case and if the quantity was large enough.

Only one school — Israel Henry Beren High in Baltimore County — said drugs are not reported to police. In the past, the school destroyed a small amount of confiscated marijuana, according to one official who wished to remain anonymous.

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“Our drug policy is very clearly laid out in the student handbook,” said Jesse Roberts, assistant to the president at Cardinal Gibbons School in Baltimore City. The school contacts police, and a six-point procedure would be administered to determine whether the student should be expelled.

“[Students] are under our nose at least 20 hours a day,” said Bebe Abergel, administrative assistant at Bais Hamedrash and Mesivta, a Jewish boarding school in Baltimore. “It’s so unlikely, it’s not really a concern of ours.”

If drugs were found in a student’s locker, “absolutely, we’d call the police,” Abergel said.

Students at Indian Creek Upper School in Anne Arundel County would not be immediately expelled for drug offenses, and police would be notified depending on the situation, said Headmistress Anne Chambers. “Our principal goal is to get the student the help they need.”

Nine schools, including Loyola Blakefield, refused to comment on disciplinary measures, and the remaining eight did not return repeated requests for comment.

“We certainly have a drug policy in place, and it’s a strong one,” said Meredith Bower, spokeswoman for McDonogh School. “We’re not going to disclose it.”

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com