Pubdate: Thu, 14 Sep 2006
Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Copyright: 2006 The Commercial Appeal
Contact:  http://www.commercialappeal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95
Author: Dakarai I. Aarons
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DRUGS LEAD ZERO-TOLERANCE

Leading Offense In Memphis Schools; Weapons Next  Closest

Illegal drug possession was the most  common zero-tolerance offense
recorded in Memphis City  Schools last year, following a trend in
Tennessee's  other urban schools.

The offense accounted for 465 of the 751 reported  incidents in the
2005-06 Memphis school year, and  accounted for the highest percentage
of offenses in  Knox and Davidson counties, according to the state's
latest report on zero-tolerance offenses.

The data, reported by schools every 20 days to district  officials,
come from the 75 schools that reported  zero-tolerance offenses in
2005-06. They represent 39  percent of the district's schools.

Schools also reported incidents in five other  categories: possession
of firearms, battery against  teachers or staff, possession of weapons
other than  firearms, possession of alcohol, and other.

Zero-tolerance offenses bring expulsion from regular  school and
enrollment in an alternative program if the  student is still of
mandatory school age.

The numbers don't provide a complete picture of what a  school may
look like today, said chief academic officer  Alfred Hall, but they
are a valuable reference in  tailoring programs to a school's specific
needs.

"Having data like this available, there's a sense of  excitement and
growing concern," he said. "Does it  represent an increase of
incidents or are we better at  tracking them?"

Northside High School reported 42 total incidents, more  than any
other school. Of those, 30 were drug-related.  But the school reported
fewer of the more severe  offenses.

With four floors, 30 exits and nearly as many  bathrooms, Northside
provides a challenge to anyone who  wants to watch all areas, said
principal Carolyn  Currie. But adding more administrative staff has
helped  boost adult visibility, as has a successful partnership  with
the local police precinct, she said.

"The number of incidents reported over the last year  will show
students and parents that education is our  priority," Currie said.
"Anything that gets in the way  of that will not be tolerated at Northside."

High schools reported the most incidents, a fact  reflected in 51 of
the district's 60 new campus  monitors being sent to high schools.

At Chickasaw Middle, nine of its 13 offenses were  weapons
possessions, the second-largest category  overall.

Principal Willie Tobias said the school has staggered  the class
schedule, and teachers escort students to  their next class in an
effort to have more adult  supervision.

Those changes, along with increased adult presence and  more parental
involvement, have made a difference, he  said.

"We've had a wonderful start of school," Tobias said.  "It has really
been good. The kids have been upbeat,  focused on their lessons and
happy."

Parents and students play a key role in eliminating  zero-tolerance
offenses, said Cordova High principal  Ben Phillips. Cordova had 25
incidents, mostly  drug-related, but a few involved alcohol possession.

Phillips has told students, who he says seem to be in  the midst of an
"anti-snitching movement" they have a  responsibility to report the
present of marijuana or  other illegal substances in the building.
"That is no  longer snitching," he said. "That becomes the right
thing to do."
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