Last April 12, a freshman at Indian Hill High School was nearly poisoned in class after she reported students who were selling marijuana cookies.

It didn't make the news. Most parents still don't know what happened.

The victim's parents say the superintendent squelched the incident to protect the reputation of Indian Hill schools.

"I am terribly offended that the approach has been `don't ask, don't tell,'" her father said. Her mother added, "There's been a real blanket thrown over this thing."

Superintendent David Quattrone denied it. "We were not trying to cover this up by any means," he said. "I feel terrible that the (parents) don't feel we've done enough."

The girl still attends Indian Hill High School, so her name and her parents' names are withheld.

After she told school administrators that a student offered her a drugged cookie, several students were expelled and she began receiving threats. She was roughed up in a hallway, and on the following Friday someone slipped drugs into her Pepsi can during a class. She drank about half, told a friend she felt strange, then collapsed. Paramedics rushed her to a hospital. Though police don't want to identify the specific drug, the parents were told that lab tests found enough to kill her if she had finished the drink.

Her parents asked school officials to send a letter to tell parents what happened and encourage students to come forward with information.

"Somebody could say `I saw, I heard or I think,' and that's going to be helpful," said her father, a former FBI agent. "If they're not asked, how can they be part of the solution?"

Indian Hill Ranger Ed Shannon, who is investigating the case, said, "We thought (the letter) was a good idea."

Mr. Quattrone said no.

He said the district did two sweeps with drug-sniffing dogs and found nothing. He asked students to come forward, without mentioning any specific incident. When asked last May about the incident by the weekly newspaper Suburban Life, he said rumors about a drink spiked with ecstasy were untrue. That was half true. The drug was not ecstasy - but the drink was spiked.

Mr. Quattrone said he rejected the letter for confidentiality reasons. And Board President Ted Jaroszewicz said, "I support him 100 percent."

But the parents say school officials were more worried about publicity than drugs or spiked drinks.

The victim is still afraid, but refuses to switch schools and leave her friends. Patrolman Shannon said there are no new leads, and some parents even believe bogus rumors that she overdosed.

"I think there are people out there with information, but they are reluctant to come forward for fear of reprisals," he said.

No kidding. Look at what happens to a student who reports drugs.

The parents are offering a reward and urge anyone with information to call the Indian Hill Rangers at 561-7000.

"I just want the administration to take at least the same stance on moral issues as our 15-year-old did," the father said.

E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.