Teacher on leave pending gun charge

A science teacher at Cardinal O'Hara High School was placed on leave last Friday pending a criminal charge and a police investigation, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said yesterday.

The Springfield, Delaware County, high school notified parents that the teacher, Brandon Holiday, was charged Friday with a weapons offense in Marlton, N.J. The school also told parents that Holiday, 37, was under investigation in Delaware County for his interactions with a minor. No further details were offered.

Holiday did not respond to a request for comment.

"We are devastated to learn of these allegations," said Mary E. Rochford, superintendent of Catholic education for the archdiocese, in a written statement.

Donna Farrell, spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said she could not elaborate on the vague information provided to parents. Parents at Little Flower Catholic High School in Philadelphia, where Holiday previously taught, also were notified, she said.

         - Robert Moran