DATE: Friday, September 26, 1997            TAG: 9709240145

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 11   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MELANIE STOKES, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   67 lines

SCHOOL OFFICIALS JAILED IN FUNDRAISER FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION

A Portsmouth elementary school principal was arrested Thursday as nine hundred students and school teachers watched and cheered.

Police entered James Hurst Elementary during the middle of a school day and handcuffed Gordon Ellsworth. Though his hands were cuffed together, Ellsworth clutched a beige cloth bag full of cash.

As an officer escorted Ellsworth to the police car, students lined the schoolyard, acting as a corridor through which their accused leader walked. Some of the younger students shed a tear and softly protested, ``Don't take our principal,'' while others, the savvy fifth-graders, applauded and cheered. The upperclassmen understood the charge against their leader.

At other schools nearby, educators faced the same fate, taken into custody during the Portsmouth-wide round-up. All charged with having a big heart.

Ellsworth and others participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Lock-up and voluntarily sported the cuffs to raise funds. MDA holds approximately 12 lock-ups a year in Hampton Roads' major cities. On Thursday, Sept. 18, it was Portsmouth's turn to support the charity. The city's accused were held at WAVY's television station on Court St. While the students witnesses thought certain their principals had been thrown behind bars, the principals enjoyed pizza, doughnuts and soda in their roomy television studio cell. MDA representative Marcia McGill contacts volunteers a few weeks before arresting them, giving them a chance to raise ``bail.'' She receives their names from past volunteers and MDA supporters.

``The participants are referred to us in an anonymous system that allows the program to work,'' McGill said. ``The charge is that they have a big heart.''

Ellsworth received his call three weeks before the lock-up and accepted the challenge. He sent letters requesting bail from friends and associates. Students and teachers made donations toward the principal's bail as well. Ellsworth received change from children and checks and pledges from others.

``I sent a nice letter to my principal friends and the school's business partners a few weeks ago,'' Ellsworth said. ``Then I sent out e-mails reminding them that my children would really like to see me at home for dinner.''

Ellsworth's bail was set at $1,000, and he almost raised that amount. But when he reached $828.80, MDA released him. Ellsworth was the top fundraiser educator who participated. Eunice Southall, principal of Shea Terrace Elementary, and vice-principal Sherry Frank also participated. The two were taken into custody with little money in their pockets, but with plenty of friends in mind. At the pseudo-jail, Southall and Frank were allowed more than the traditional one phone call.

``Hello, this is Eunice Southall,'' she said into the cellular phone with a smile on her face but desperation in her voice. ``I've been arrested and I need for you to bail me out of jail.''

With each call, the volunteers earned another pledge. ``That was my boss,'' Southall said. ``He made a pledge and told me to get back to work.''

The Shea Terrace team raised $255.45. Joe Watson, Portsmouth's adult education administrator, raised another $200.

Volunteers included not only educators, but representatives from across the Portsmouth community. Inmates sat around tables calling for friends to post bail. MDA hoped to raise $17,000 on Thursday, but exceeded that goal by raising $33,001.84. MDA will hold another lock-up combining Portsmouth and Chesapeake communities on Oct. 23 at Rio Bravo restaurant. For more information call the MDA at 461- ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN

Principal Gordon Elsworth, left, is ``arrested'' by Deputy Phil

Fonner.

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