Johhny Garth speaks during a meeting of Hamilton County Parents for Safe Education at the Tyner High School auditorium Monday night. Seated in front of him are Hamilton County Commissioners Chester Bankston, left, and Larry Henry, right, and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger, center.Parents turned out in droves Monday evening to ask school and law enforcement officials for tougher enforcement of gang activities in schools.
A recently formed parent group called Hamilton County Parents for Safe Education called the meeting at Tyner Academy to discuss ways to address gang problems in Hamilton County schools.
Parents asked that gang activities be added to the list of zero-tolerance offenses, which include battery and the presence of weapons, drugs or drug paraphernalia at school. Those zero-tolerance offenses can land students up to a year’s expulsion.
Organizers said they don’t want kids to be thrown out of school, but that something has to be done to keep students safe.
Danny Brown, one of the parent leaders, said the group hasn’t yet decided what changes it will seek. Over the next few weeks, members will meet with parents and residents to come up with a proposal, he said.