A Hightower Academy student was arrested April 14 for having a weapon on school property.

Hunter Davis Glover, 18, was enrolled at Dawson County's alternative school when he was arrested.

"The building administrators of Hightower Academy were notifiedofthe possibility of the presence of a weapon inside a student's vehicle, which was parked on the school campus,"Dawson County School Superintendent Dr. Damon Gibbs said. "The school administration conducted a search of the vehicle and did find a weapon."

According to Gibbs, the incident was immediately turned over to the Dawson County Sheriff's office.

"The Sheriff's office acted quickly and the student was placed under arrest," Gibbs said.

Earlier this year, the Dawson County Board of Education updated its definition of weapons.

We have split the classifications of guns, which include firearms, grenade launchers and the like, and hazardous weapons, which include knives, blackjacks or any other fighting object, Gibbs said.

In the past, if you were in possession of any weapon, you had to be expelled for a minimum of 12 months under the (states) zero tolerance policy, Gibbs said. This new law has helped us relax that a little bit and allowed us to use some common sense to look at the situation.

Under Georgia law, weapons are prohibited in a school safety zone, meaning any property owned or leased by the board of education.

At presstime, it was unclear how Glover is being disciplined.

School officials are cooperating fully with law enforcement and handling the matter at school in accordance with the schools code of conduct and state law, according to Gibbs.

"The first priority of the district is the safety of all students in the district," Gibbs said.

Glover is out on a $5,200 bond, according to Maj. Jeff Johnson, Dawson County Sheriff's Office.