Pubdate: Wed, 20 Sep 2006
Source: Ashland City Times (TN)
Copyright: 2006 Ashland City Times
Contact: http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/customerservice/index.shtml
Website: http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2016
Author: Kate Howard, Natalia Mielczarek, Knight  Stivender and Anne Paine

DRUGS IN SCHOOLS

Here's a look at how Midstate school districts are  responding to drug
problems in their schools and what  they're planning for this school
year.

METRO NASHVILLE

Drug dogs: This year, officials have started using drug  dogs on a
regular basis for random, unannounced  searches at middle and high
schools.

Testing: There have been informal discussions about  drug testing, 
but there is no policy allowing for drug  tests, except during a 
physical required for athletes,  Ralph Thompson of Metro schools said.

Notes: Drug dogs are expected to be a big part of  Metro's plan to 
prevent students from carrying drugs  into schools, Thompson said.

SUMNER

Drug dogs: Random searches are done occasionally at the  high schools,
spokesman Steve Doremus said.

Testing: There's been no talk of drug testing for all  students, Doremus said.

Notes: Because of funding issues, there are no new  initiatives to fight drugs.

RUTHERFORD

Drug dogs: Drug dogs have been used occasionally in the  past few
years, spokesman James Evans said.

Testing: There is no policy to test students for drug  use because of 
privacy concerns, Evans said.

Notes: Students at Murfreesboro's city schools are in  grades K-6, 
and spokeswoman Cheryl Harris said they've  had no problems with 
drugs to warrant extra enforcement  efforts or drug testing.

WILSON

Drug dogs: There were no searches this past year,  Safety Director
David Burton said, but the school  system has used drug dogs for
random searches for about  seven years.

Random testing: Wilson County athletes already are  tested randomly
for drug use, but there's been no talk  of testing nonathletes, Burton
said.

Notes: At the request of the school board, he's looking  into adding 
a policy for testing students for steroids.

LEBANON

Drug dogs: The Lebanon Special School District has  grades K-8 and
only occasionally encounters drug  problems, Assistant Director
Randall Hutto said. It  doesn't do drug searches but allows local
police to use  the school for training, Hutto said.

Random testing: There is no drug testing for any  students.

Notes: Hutto said he doesn't think drugs have become a  problem in 
Lebanon's city schools.

ROBERTSON

Drug dogs: Dogs enter each middle and high school in  the county
roughly four to five times a school year,  Schools Director Danny Weeks said.

Random testing: School board policy allows for  Robertson County
Schools officials to drug test any  student, but no schools have acted
on that option  because the testing is too expensive, Weeks said.

Notes: When drugs are recovered by the dogs, it's  generally 
marijuana, Weeks said.

DICKSON

Drug dogs: Dogs have been used once or twice in the  past few years,
Schools Director Charlie Daniel said,  but there's little funding
available for drug  enforcement.

Random testing: No students are drug-tested, but  officials have
started talks about bringing back  testing for student-athletes,
Daniel said.

Notes: Daniel said they've been focusing on general  security 
measures for which federal grants can be  obtained, such as more 
cameras and keyless entry passes  for students.

MONTGOMERY

Drug dogs: Spokeswoman Elise Shelton said the district  has used drug
dogs only once, at the suggestion of law  enforcement, in the past few
years. They usually only  search when there's a specific concern, she
said.

Random testing: There's been no discussion of  conducting random drug
testing, Shelton said.

Notes: The district spent the past year focusing on the  "Meth is 
Death" campaign and plans to continue focusing  on education as a 
preventive measure, Shelton said.

CHEATHAM

Drug dogs: Officials in Cheatham County occasionally  use drug dogs at
the high schools but hardly ever turn  up contraband, Secondary
Education Supervisor Alvin  Rose said.

Random testing: No information was available on  Cheatham's testing
policy.

MAURY

Drug dogs: Drug-sniffing dogs are used "routinely"  throughout the
year to sniff lockers and parking lots  at middle and high schools,
Schools Director Eddie  Hickman said.

Random testing: The district is looking for funds to  develop a random
testing program for student-athletes,  but there's no policy in place
to allow for widespread  random testing.

WILLIAMSON

Drug dogs: Drug dogs have visited Williamson County  schools in the
past as part of regional drug  enforcement and occasional searches.
Officials could  not be reached for comment on any current or future
uses of dogs.

Random testing: School board members are in discussion  about the use
of random drug testing for any student  involved in a
school-sanctioned extracurricular  activity.
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