UPDATE: Alumni of elite private school appalled by sex abuse allegations

BASKING RIDGE -- Pingry School has launched an investigation and contacted authorities after receiving reports from alumni of alleged sexual abuse in the 1970s.

Thad Alton

The school sent a letter to parents of current students, the entire alumni and school trustees informing them of the investigation into the alleged abuse.

"We recently learned from a few of our alumni that students were sexually abused by Thad Alton, an employee of Short Hills Country Day School from 1972 to 1974 and, following the merger of the two institutions, an employee of The Pingry School from 1974 to 1978," it is stated in the letter signed by Headmaster Nathaniel E. Conard and Jeffrey N. Edwards, chair of the board of trustees.

A copy of the letter was sent to NJ Advance Media.The private day school has a kindergarten-fifth grade campus in Short Hills and a middle and upper school campus in Basking Ridge. Tuition at the school ranges from $31,504 to $37,062.

On Tuesday, Conard spoke to students in the middle and upper school about the investigation.

In 1990, Alton, who was living in upstate New York and working at a university there, was convicted in New York of first-degree sexual abuse and second degree sodomy. He spent five years in jail and is listed on the New York State Sex Offender Registry with an address in Manhattan. He could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Pingry School released an official press statement Tuesday confirming the letter. "We are taking this matter very seriously," it stated. "We contacted law enforcement, informed them of the allegations, and are committed to assisting them in any investigation.

"While the reported events took place many years ago, we realize that they continue to cause pain for members of our community."

Alton, who served as an assistant principal and guidance counselor at Pingry, also taught sixth grade and social studies at the school. He was a soccer coach at the school and scoutmaster for a boy scouts troop, which consisted of students from the school. The school did not comment further on Tuesday.

The school said it has also hired T&M Protection Resources to conduct an independent investigation, according to the letter.

"We are keenly aware that the passage of time has not diminished the impact or lessened the anguish these events have on the affected individuals," the press statement reads. "We deeply regret the suffering of any of our former students. Our responsibility for the safety and well-being of Pingry students is our highest priority."

In the letter, the school asks any former student who was allegedly sexually abused or knows any student who was allegedly sexually abused by Alton to contact Headmaster Nathaniel Conard at 908-647-5555, ext. 1232, or email nconard@pingry.org, or contact Laura Kirschstein of T&M Protection Resources at 212-916-8852 or lkirschstein@tmprotection.com.

Every effort to keep all calls confidential will be made, according to the letter.

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.