Letter To The Editor

ELLISVILLE ELE. RESPONDED CORRECTLY TO DRUG DISCOVERY

I read with interest the letter to the editor in the paper on Tuesday, Nov.
18, 2003. The article, "What's really going on with "record seizure'?"
really surprised me.

I am the principal of Ellisville Elementary School. Our school is rated as
a "Level 5 Superior Performing School" as designated by the State
Department of Education. A Level 5 is the highest rating a school can
receive. With the information I have available to me on this date, I am
going to try to explain "what's really going on" regarding the drug seizure.

On Nov. 4, 2003, a delivery man was unloading meat products for the
cafeteria. While unloading the meat products, it was determined that one of
the boxes did not weigh as much as the other boxes. The regular meat boxes
weighed 40 pounds, but one box weighed about half that amount. The delivery
man told the cafeteria workers that something was not right with the
lighter package. They decided to open the box and check to see if it had
the correct amount of meat in the box. The cafeteria employees always check
the packing slip and the contents of each box to be sure we receive what
was ordered. At that time it was discovered that the packages were different.

It is common for any package, crate, carton, etc., that comes into the
school to be checked before it is allowed into the learning environment.
All packages arrive into the main office or on the ramp of the cafeteria. I
feel our employees should be commended for the job they do when
inventorying supplies. We check for content, quality, and amount. Our
employees try to see that the taxpayers get their money's worth.

I was called to the cafeteria. I was told to go to the loading and
unloading ramp. I immediately went to the location. When I arrived, several
school employees were at that location. I arrived on the scene immediately
and the scene was secured. I was in contact with the superintendent of
education, the Jones County School District cafeteria supervisor,
Ellisville Police Department, Jones County Sheriff's Department, Department
of School Safety through the State Department of Education, the South Jones
security officer and Drug Task Force within minutes of the discovery. The
Ellisville Police Department responded immediately and was on the scene
within three-four minutes. All of these people were involved in helping to
see that this situation was handled appropriately and responsibly. I
applaud each of them for their professionalism and integrity.

At no time was the school learning environment hampered by this situation.
The students, faculty, and staff had a productive day without disturbance.
We, as educators, have been trained to handle this type of situation. Our
district has a Crisis Management Plan. All staff members have this plan and
are aware of what to do in a crisis situation.

A few days after the drug seizure, the Drug Task Force contacted the Jones
County School District and explained why the drugs were shipped to two
schools in Mississippi. According to the Drug Task Force, the following is
what happened: The truck driver of the packing company in Texas had 34
kilos of cocaine in the cab of the truck when he was stopped, arrested, and
the drugs in the cab of the truck were confiscated.

Law enforcement did not know that he had stolen 12 kilos of drugs from the
shipment and that he had placed the drugs he stole in two boxes of meat in
the trailer of the truck. There were 6 kilos in each of the two boxes of
meat he put in the trailer of the truck. His intention was to sell it
himself instead of delivering it to the intended destination. After
confiscating the cocaine in the cab of the truck, law enforcement sent the
truck on its way not knowing there were drugs packed in with the meat in
the trailer of the truck. If the driver had not been stopped, he would have
sold the two boxes of meat with the cocaine long before it arrived at a school.

This is how "the misshipment" of drugs was sent to Ellisville and the other
school on the coast. The Drug Task Force informed our Superintendent of
Education that the drug delivery was a "misdelivery" and no one in either
school system was under suspicion.

I can assure the author of this article that we are dedicated to providing
a safe and orderly learning environment for our students. I know that
drugs, guns, etc., are problems in society. I do not know where the author
got the facts, percentages, statistics, etc., that were quoted in the
paper. We have nothing to hide at Ellisville Elementary School. I invite
the author of the article to help make our schools and our country better
instead of criticizing those who are working diligently to help improve
society and our educational system.

Kathy H. Harrison

Principal

Ellisville Elementary School K-3