The disgraced headmaster of Branson School engaged in a pattern of misconduct even before his drug arrest last year, but the Board of Trustees failed to take action, according to an internal investigation ordered by the private academy in Ross.

Woody Price’s alleged behavior included “public inebriation” at Branson functions; “offensive, disrespectful, cruel, and inappropriate comments” to people in the Branson community; and the use of $75,000 in Branson funds for non-school-related purposes, according to the report.

The Board of Trustees released a summary of the findings Wednesday and offered its “deep apology” to Branson students, parents, staff and graduates for its oversight failures. The school also provided a summary of the investigation to the Independent Journal.

The report “outlines a complex tragedy for which the Board accepts responsibility,” Greg Swart, chairman of the Board of Trustees, wrote in a letter to the Branson community. “Dr. Price’s behavior caused great harm to himself and others.

“Over many years, the lack of proper systems for reporting misconduct by the Head of School and the flawed culture of the Board meant that the Board did not clearly recognize what was happening and did not confront signs of trouble.”

Branson ordered the investigation in the aftermath of Price’s resignation on Oct. 6. Days earlier, he had been arrested in a Rancho Cordova hotel room with an unconscious 21-year-old woman and an alleged stash of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Both Price and the woman, Brittney Hall of Elk Grove, were arrested on suspicion of drug possession for sale and other counts. On April 2, Price pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor drug possession counts and was placed on probation for three years. Hall’s case remains pending.

The internal investigation was conducted by Gary Scholick, an employment law attorney whom the school described as an “independent counsel.” Scholick interviewed nearly 100 sources and analyzed the school’s business and financial records. He requested an interview with Price but was unable to get one.

Scholick found no evidence that Price used drugs or engaged in sexual misconduct with any students or staff members. But he reported that some trustees saw him apparently inebriated at campus functions, or received “credible reports” about the other alleged misconduct, but did not raise concerns with the full board.

Scholick concluded that the “debacle” of Price’s arrest and resignation could have been avoided if the board had proper oversight procedures in place and had responded earlier to the complaints about Price.

The investigation found no “corrupt motives” on the part of the trustees, according to the summary.

The summary does not say what Price allegedly spent the $75,000 on. The school said it has “recovered” $25,000 but did not disclose how it did so.

The school has not filed a police report about the money and is contemplating whether to take further action, a spokesman said.

In what the board described as a process of “restructuring” and “renewal,” it appointed some new trustees and recently elected a new slate of officers, including Swart as chairman.

“At this juncture, and through the end of the current academic year, eleven Trustees will have transitioned off the Board,” the summary said. “These Trustees’ decisions are based on a variety of factors including the investigation results, increased time commitment, and reaching the end of their terms.”

Price, 54, did not respond to a request for comment made Wednesday through his criminal defense attorney, Donald Heller of Sacramento. The Independent Journal provided Heller with a copy of the materials released by Branson.

The trustees said they have instituted or are pursuing reforms to ensure greater oversight of the headmaster and administration.

Damon Kerby, former head of Mark Day School in San Rafael, has been interim headmaster since October, but he is leaving in June. The board plans to install another interim head for next school year while it recruits a permanent replacement to start in July 2016.

Price, whose full name is Thomas Woodrow Price II, holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Columbia University and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. He moved to Marin in 2007 to take the job at Branson, which has 320 students and annual tuition of about $40,000.

Previously, he was head of the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, the Abington Friends School in Philadelphia and Cambridge Friends School in Massachusetts.