Posted on 11/22/2001 1:30:30 PM PST by Captain Shady
By JANET SPENCER Staff Writer
A Spartanburg School District 6 teacher was arrested on campus Wednesday after authorities found cocaine in her classroom.
Lou Ann Long Parris, 44, of 6 Summercreek Drive, taught at the University School, a countywide alternative school for at-risk students. She has been removed from the school, pending further investigation, a school official said.
A random search uncovered cocaine and a pipe in a filing cabinet plus residue in the drawer of Parris' classroom desk.
Spartanburg County sheriff's deputies said a razor blade with traces of cocaine was also found in the teacher's car.
Authorities said Parris agreed to take a drug test at the request of school officials, although she said in advance that she knew she would not pass it.
The test was administered at the school located at 150 Lincoln School Road. She was then arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine within half mile of a school.
Dr. David Eubanks, District 6 superintendent, said the events of the day were unfortunate.
He said drug searches are done intermittently in all schools.
"We try to keep anything illegal from the campus, whether it is brought by a student or staff member," he said.
But Eubanks said this was his first experience of a search which led authorities to a teacher.
"She has been removed from the school, pending a full investigation which could result in a recommendation to the board of trustees that she be terminated," Eubanks said.
A dog, Terra, trained to respond to drugs, reacted to the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet in Parris' classroom about 10:30 a.m.
Terra's handler, Jay Russell who is employed by District 6, said he found a plastic grocery bag which contained a Blockbuster videotape, a small black bag and a bottle of body mist.
The black bag held a pipe used for smoking crack, two off-white rock-like substances and some tissue, he said.
The dog then reacted to a razor blade with a white substance found in the middle console of Parris' car.
All the substances tested positive for cocaine, including some residue found in the middle drawer of her desk. The total weight of the cocaine in Parris' possession was 8 grams.
Parris told the officers the cocaine in the black bag was hers, but she had forgotten it was in the cabinet.
During an interview at the sheriff's office, she told deputies she buys cocaine about twice a week and smokes it to relieve pain.
Parris was held in the Spartanburg County jail late Wednesday night awaiting a bond hearing.
Janet Spencer can be reached at 582-4511, Ext. 7222, or janet.spencer@shj.com.
I did as you suggested and I was shocked !
If he's on the side of public education ,We'll have to contact the Libertarian Party .Maybe the LP would excommunicate him for heresy.
St. Francis Prep is a Catholic college preparatory school
in the Franciscan tradition. Our mission is to enable all students to develop
and broaden their spiritual, intellectual, creative, emotional, social, and
physical abilities. We value the unique contribution each person makes
to the Prep community. Together we create an environment filled with
academic success, respect, integrity, and joy.
It worked for me!!
EdReform is, I believe, looking at the correlation between crime in government schools and union representation.
Nahh. Too easy.
.....FUMA.....
Praise God!
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