TASK FORCE HEARS DRUG ASSESSMENT REPORT FROM THS PRINCIPAL CARTER

Although high school campuses routinely shape and mold tomorrow's
leaders, they also harbor the other side of the spectrum.

That is an assessment Greg Carter, Tullahoma High School principal,
provided recently to the city's Drug Free Task Force/Youth Development
Committee.

Carter said the high school tries to provide an outstanding learning
environment but it is occasionally plagued by drug-related and
unrelated crimes that can get in the way of providing ideal learning
opportunities.

"Any drug that there is in society, you're going to find in public
schools," Carter said. "Any problem you find in society will be in
public schools because public schools are part of society.

"Whatever society's ills are, we're going to have to deal with."

Carter said THS has had to deal with four drug-related cases recently.

"One is too many, and four are way too many," he said.

Other drug violations occur on campus that have gone undetected, but
some students have stepped forward to take a stand against such
illegal activity.

"For us, it's a good sign when students come forward and tell us there
is a problem," he said.

Carter said marijuana has been detected, but a more common violation
being found is prescription pill abuse.

"We've seen more pill abuse than anything lately," he said. "Marijuana
is second."

Carter said rarely have drugs been found in the THS building, but they
have been located in students' cars.

"Students know where adults are and keep drugs away from those areas,"
he said.

Carter said when dogs have been used to check for drugs, the move
seems to have had some impact.

He said the dogs' visibility has showed that the school system is
attempting to do something about drugs on campus.

Carter said a survey has been taken to assess potential crime on
campus and determine whether an on duty school resource police officer
would be beneficial.

He said the survey showed that students showed more concern about
safety and drug issues, indicating more need for an on campus officer
than parents did.

"I was surprised parents had a less negative opinion," he said.

Carter said an on-campus officer could be an asset in reducing drug
activity because the individual would be specifically trained to deal
with such matters.

"I'm not trained in the field of investigation," he said, adding that
questions still remain about whether an on-campus officer is needed.

Alderman Troy Bisby, the Task Force's chairman, said he could see
where an officer could be beneficial if most students could see the
individual as a friend to ensure their safety.

Coffee County District Attorney General Mickey Layne, also a Task
Force member, said a resource officer at Coffee County Central High
School has turned out to be a positive experience. He added that
students view the officer as increased security for their safety.

"That's very positive," he said.