HHS STUDENT SUSPENDED FOR HAVING DRUGS ON CAMPUS

A Hendersonville High School junior was suspended from school on
Friday after rolling papers, a measuring scale and marijuana were
found in his possession. The school resource officer, Sumner County
Sheriff's Deputy Michael Hudson, was called in to assist school
personnel in the search of two students, after they were caught being
outside, ditching a class. Both students "smelled of smoke,''
according to court records. And when the 17-year-old male was
searched, police found rolling papers in his pocket and a measuring
scale in his socks. A search of his car yielded 46.8 grams of leafy
green substance that later tested positive for marijuana.

A juvenile petition was granted against the youth for possession of a
schedule VI drug for resale and drug paraphernalia. A hearing is
expected to be set in Sumner County Juvenile Court. Meanwhile, he'll
also have to face school officials by appearing before the
Displicinary Hearing Authority of the Sumner County Board of
Education, where he could face expulsion for one calendar year or be
sent to the R.T. Fisher Alternative School to complete his education,
said Grace Oliver, supervisor of attendance, and chairwoman of the
hearing board. "It depends on each individual case, how it is
handled,'' Oliver said. This is the fourth student, out of 1,700 at
Hendersonville High School, to be found with marijuana in the past
three months, according to Principal Paul Decker. While Decker said
he does not feel there is a major drug problem at the school, "one
case, is a lot,'' he said. "We're trying to keep a watch on it. Other
students are a big help. They don't want it (drugs) in the school,
anymore than we do,'' the principal said. So far this school year, 85
out of the county's 23,000 students have been sent to the
disciplinary board, Oliver said. "We're not any different than any
other county.

We do have several cases each year of violation of the drug policy,
which could be either marijuana or prescription pills," Oliver said.
So far, the system hasn't caught any students with crack cocaine or
any of the designer drugs such as Esctasy. The zero tolerance to
drugs includes not only illegal, but prescription drugs. "Any student
that takes aspirin, Tylenol, prescription or any over-the-county drug
must take it to the office to be dispensed.

The student must also show written permission for it to be
dispensed,'' Oliver added. "We really don't have bad kids in Sumner
County. Our kids are good, we just have some, who sometimes make poor
decisions,'' she said.