Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 Source: Tennessean, The (TN) Copyright: 2004 The Tennessean Contact: http://www.tennessean.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/447 Author: Nellann Mettee Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) PRINCIPAL TO RETIRE AMID DRUG INCIDENT A Williamson County middle school principal announced his retirement yesterday, nearly two weeks after Nashville airport officials found marijuana in a checked bag with his wife's name on it. Grassland Middle School Principal Doug Crosier will retire next week, after 30 years with the county school district, having served as a high school and middle school principal. He was put on administrative leave more than a week ago when district officials launched an internal investigation into the airport incident. ''Although I strongly deny any guilt in the incident which occurred at the airport, irreparable damage has been done to my reputation as a leader in the school system,'' Crosier wrote in a letter to Interim Director of Schools David Heath. ''For my sake and that of my family, I choose to bring this matter to closure.'' The Tennessean wasn't able to reach Crosier after three phone calls to his home yesterday. On June 11, Crosier and his wife, Vicki, were preparing to fly out of Nashville International Airport when security reported finding a cigarette box holding two marijuana cigarettes inside a red bag that had been checked at curbside. Airport officials paged Vicki Crosier, the name on the bag, and directed her to return to the area, according to a police report. The Crosiers told airport police they had no knowledge of the marijuana, the report said. Earlier this week, administrators and school board members were bombarded with e-mails from parents and residents voicing concern about the situation. Many showed overwhelming support for Crosier, while some expressed reservations about his returning to school next year. Still others said there were many questions to be answered. ''It's just a bad situation,'' said parent Anita Bice, who has two children at Grassland Middle. ''My first thought was I felt so sorry for him. Even if it came out he was innocent, his reputation was still soiled. I think the world of him.'' Another parent, Sha Smith, felt differently. She said she would have liked for Crosier to have taken a drug test to clear up the whole controversy. ''To command the respect that this man needs to have at school, it just doesn't work,'' she said. ''To deny and then retire, to me, that just screams guilt.'' Crosier started his career in Williamson County at Fairview High School in 1974, and has since served as an assistant principal at Brentwood High, a longtime principal at Franklin High, and principal at Grassland Middle. According to his letter, Crosier's retirement is effective June 30. He is immediately eligible for full retirement benefits. His replacement is expected to be tapped by incoming schools chief Becky Schwab, who starts next week. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin