DRUGS IN SCHOOLS

Here's a look at how Midstate school districts are responding to drug
problems in their schools and what they're planning for this school
year.

METRO NASHVILLE

Drug dogs: This year, officials have started using drug dogs on a
regular basis for random, unannounced searches at middle and high
schools.

Testing: There have been informal discussions about drug testing,
but there is no policy allowing for drug tests, except during a
physical required for athletes, Ralph Thompson of Metro schools said.

Notes: Drug dogs are expected to be a big part of Metro's plan to
prevent students from carrying drugs into schools, Thompson said.

SUMNER

Drug dogs: Random searches are done occasionally at the high schools,
spokesman Steve Doremus said.

Testing: There's been no talk of drug testing for all students, Doremus said.

Notes: Because of funding issues, there are no new initiatives to fight drugs.

RUTHERFORD

Drug dogs: Drug dogs have been used occasionally in the past few
years, spokesman James Evans said.

Testing: There is no policy to test students for drug use because of
privacy concerns, Evans said.

Notes: Students at Murfreesboro's city schools are in grades K-6,
and spokeswoman Cheryl Harris said they've had no problems with
drugs to warrant extra enforcement efforts or drug testing.

WILSON

Drug dogs: There were no searches this past year, Safety Director
David Burton said, but the school system has used drug dogs for
random searches for about seven years.

Random testing: Wilson County athletes already are tested randomly
for drug use, but there's been no talk of testing nonathletes, Burton
said.

Notes: At the request of the school board, he's looking into adding
a policy for testing students for steroids.

LEBANON

Drug dogs: The Lebanon Special School District has grades K-8 and
only occasionally encounters drug problems, Assistant Director
Randall Hutto said. It doesn't do drug searches but allows local
police to use the school for training, Hutto said.

Random testing: There is no drug testing for any students.

Notes: Hutto said he doesn't think drugs have become a problem in
Lebanon's city schools.

ROBERTSON

Drug dogs: Dogs enter each middle and high school in the county
roughly four to five times a school year, Schools Director Danny Weeks said.

Random testing: School board policy allows for Robertson County
Schools officials to drug test any student, but no schools have acted
on that option because the testing is too expensive, Weeks said.

Notes: When drugs are recovered by the dogs, it's generally
marijuana, Weeks said.

DICKSON

Drug dogs: Dogs have been used once or twice in the past few years,
Schools Director Charlie Daniel said, but there's little funding
available for drug enforcement.

Random testing: No students are drug-tested, but officials have
started talks about bringing back testing for student-athletes,
Daniel said.

Notes: Daniel said they've been focusing on general security
measures for which federal grants can be obtained, such as more
cameras and keyless entry passes for students.

MONTGOMERY

Drug dogs: Spokeswoman Elise Shelton said the district has used drug
dogs only once, at the suggestion of law enforcement, in the past few
years. They usually only search when there's a specific concern, she
said.

Random testing: There's been no discussion of conducting random drug
testing, Shelton said.

Notes: The district spent the past year focusing on the "Meth is
Death" campaign and plans to continue focusing on education as a
preventive measure, Shelton said.

CHEATHAM

Drug dogs: Officials in Cheatham County occasionally use drug dogs at
the high schools but hardly ever turn up contraband, Secondary
Education Supervisor Alvin Rose said.

Random testing: No information was available on Cheatham's testing
policy.

MAURY

Drug dogs: Drug-sniffing dogs are used "routinely" throughout the
year to sniff lockers and parking lots at middle and high schools,
Schools Director Eddie Hickman said.

Random testing: The district is looking for funds to develop a random
testing program for student-athletes, but there's no policy in place
to allow for widespread random testing.

WILLIAMSON

Drug dogs: Drug dogs have visited Williamson County schools in the
past as part of regional drug enforcement and occasional searches.
Officials could not be reached for comment on any current or future
uses of dogs.

Random testing: School board members are in discussion about the use
of random drug testing for any student involved in a
school-sanctioned extracurricular activity.