An employee at Longfellow Elementary School was charged with three drug offenses last month after Howard County police discovered what appeared to be cocaine and marijuana paraphernalia in her Columbia home.

Police were executing a search warrant at the home of Longfellow media specialist Michelle N. Feldmesser as part of an investigation into potentially misappropriated book vouchers, according to a statement of charges.

Feldmesser, 30, was charged with one count of drug possession and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators found three smoking pipes, a bong, a mirror and smoking tube and a small amount of cocaine, the document states.

Police found no evidence of misused or misappropriated book vouchers. The book voucher investigation has since been dropped, according to school system spokeswoman Patti Caplan.

When employees are accused of a crime, the school system conducts an investigation, Caplan said.

Depending on the results of the investigation, Superintendent John R. O'Rourke will decide what action should be taken, ranging from a verbal reprimand to dismissal, she said.

"We have to look at each situation individually," Caplan said.

Longfellow Principal Lou Chillemi sent parents a letter dated Tuesday, explaining that the charges do not involve drug use on school property.

Feldmesser remains an employee of Howard County schools, Caplan said.