Pubdate: Wed, 15 Dec 2004 Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (MS) Copyright: 2004 The Clarion-Ledger Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/about/letters.html Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805 Author: Cathy Hayden and Jeremy Hudson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) PRINCIPAL - MADISON STUDENTS DEALT POT Madison Middle School Parents Sent Letter About Expulsions Madison Middle School's principal took a somewhat unusual step Monday by sending a letter to parents detailing four boys' involvement in alleged drug deals on campus earlier this month. Principal Ron Morrison said it was better for parents to hear about the alleged drug deals from officials than through gossip. Two unidentified boys were expelled for a calendar year - with another semester at the alternative school to follow - for allegedly selling marijuana and the prescription drug Adderall, sometimes prescribed to treat attention-deficit disorder or hyperactivity, Morrison wrote. Two other boys were placed at the alternative school for a year for alleged possession of marijuana. In October, two boys were arrested at the 1,300-student school for alleged possession of marijuana. One also was charged with sale and possession of a tobacco substance. "This problem is universal in this country. It's not just here in Madison," said Morrison, who was principal at Jackson's Chastain Middle last year. "It's in the community." Madison County Sheriff's Department Lt. Brad Harbour, who often visits schools to talk with students about staying away from drugs, said a seventh grade girl recently told him she had experimented with cocaine. "I try to be blunt with the kids and let them know they will wind up dead or in jail if they mess around with this stuff," Harbour said. "It all goes back to parents being involved with their kids, though. I ask parents if they have ever searched their child's room and it is amazing how many tell me that would be an invasion of their privacy. I'd rather have my kid hate me for doing that than have them wind up dead." Morrison said the number of cases at Madison Middle compared to other middle schools in the area are about the same, but one difference in Madison is that middle-school age students have more money to spend. Madison County has one of the highest per capita incomes in the state. "I hope parents realize that when you're giving the kids money, you'd best be thinking about where they are spending it and think about what's coming in the door. One kid had gone around bragging about how much marijuana he had been smoking," Morrison said. But on the other hand, Morrison said a number of students reported the alleged drug deal on Dec. 3 to an assistant principal. "It was incredible how involved the children are in cleaning up their own school. They have a genuine sense of ownership," he said. Ironically, about the same time the alleged drug deal was reported, science classes were holding a series of drug awareness talks with local attorneys and law enforcement officials. "It is certainly a concern that children of that age are exposed to drugs and alcohol. It's disappointing those students chose to bring it to the school," said attorney Sam Kelly, who is Madison Middle PTO president. Morrison said he doesn't see anything different the school can do, except maybe more of what it's already doing. Drug-sniffing dogs are brought in about every four to six weeks for random searches. The school frequently schedules speakers to talk to students about drug awareness. "I don't think there is anything different we'll do. We've got to get something going on a more regular basis," he said. Madison County Youth Court Judge Cynthia Brewer said marijuana and alcohol are the primary substances young teens abuse. Lack of parental involvement is becoming a trend among the youthful offenders appearing before her, she said. "You have to be supportive of your child and do your best to educate them," Brewer said. "As a parent, your job is to do all you can to make sure they make the right choice." According to Morrison's letter: On Dec. 3, students told eighth-grade principal Brent Cofield that they witnessed a student in the school courtyard giving money to a boy in exchange for marijuana. School administrators found marijuana on the student, Morrison said. "He confessed that he purchased the drug on campus and verified the name of the other student," the letter said. "During questioning, the other boy revealed that he was in possession of a prescription drug, Adderall," the letter states. "We continued our investigation and found that there were two other boys involved in the distribution of marijuana and Adderall," the letter states. "One transaction occurred during the ride to school on the bus," the letter states. "After concluding our investigation, we called the Madison Police Department and the students were removed from our campus." Morrison said he placed the boys found in possession of marijuana - but who did not distribute it - in alternative school for a full school year. A district disciplinary committee upheld that action, Morrison said in the letter. "Please reinforce to your child that we will be intensely diligent in investigating any allegation of an illegal or prohibited activity of any kind on campus, including any illegal drug use, possession or distribution," Morrison said in the letter. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek