Sex offender law creating concerns for school officials

4-13-2011 Tennessee:

Sex offenders in Tennessee cannot be within 1,000 feet of a school. But there are a few exceptions that were added to the sex offender law last year. A registered sex offender can drop off and pick up their child at school if they give notice to the school. And they can attend a parent teacher conference at the school if approved by a principal.

"We will have folks that actually weigh all those what the request is and if we can accommodate their request and it's in the guidelines of what we're talking about we will try to make sure we keep the peace within the family, but not at the expense and the safety of the children," said Dr. Jubal Yennie, Sullivan County Director of Schools.

One school system official in the Tri-Cities said they would possibly expand the sex offender guidelines to include other school events. Sullivan County District Attorney William Harper believes the sex offender law should be very limited when it comes to allowing sex offenders on campus.

"They've carved out limited exceptions, but I guess others have tried to expand that exception even further. I would have a problem with them expanding that," said William Harper, Sullivan County Assistant District Attorney. ..Source.. by Bill Christian