STUDENT GIVES POT TIP, GETS THREAT LETTER, CLAIMS ATHENS PRINCIPAL

Police Vowed Confidentiality

ATHENS -- A student who told authorities fellow students had marijuana at
school is being threatened, his parents said, but Athens Superintendent
James Irby said he won't change his policy of telling students who accused
them.

On March 7, the Athens City Board of Education expelled an Athens Middle
School student for the remainder of this year for having marijuana on
school grounds. The student must complete one semester at EAGLE Academy.
Irby said police are testing the contents of a substance found at school to
ensure it is marijuana.

The superintendent also recommended that the board expel a second student,
but the board voted against the expulsion.

Parents of a third student -- the one who told the principal the boys had
marijuana -- criticized Irby for telling those boys who snitched. The
parents' letter said that Principal Joe Jackson and an Athens police
officer promised their son Feb. 20 that his identity would be confidential
if he shared information about the marijuana.

The letter said that March 4, their son received America Online instant
message they interpreted as threatening. They couldn't print the messages
to give the superintendent, the letter said.