Surveys Suggest That Substance Abuse Is Lower Here Than Elsewhere FRANKLIN - Eleven Ravenwood High School students were caught smoking pot in March at a YMCA Youth in Government Conference in Nashville. Nine of those kids were suspended and sent to the district's Alternative Learning Center for up to a year, a penalty that is in accordance with board policy and state zero tolerance laws. Parents of a few of the offenders have appealed the punishment, saying the students are being denied a proper education. Others questioned how the students came to admit the deed since there wasn't any evidence that the kids had actually smoked marijuana. The school board tomorrow will vote on whether to schedule an appeal hearing. [continues 898 words]