Pubdate: Mon, 21 Nov 2005
Source: Brazosports Facts, The (TX)
Copyright: 2005 The Facts
Contact:  http://www.thefacts.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1406
Author: Velda Hunter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States)

ANGLETON ISD DISCUSSES CAMPUS SAFETY

ANGLETON -- Increasing  police officers' presence, offering training
to staff  and talking more with students are ideas being  implemented
to improve campus security and safety at  Angleton High School.

Police Chief Domingo Garcia told Angleton ISD trustees  last week
about the department's continued efforts to  maintain visibility at
the campus, especially when  there are high numbers of students in
certain areas.

The discussion came a few weeks after eight fights at  the school in
October resulted in five citations and  three arrests.

One of the fights resulted in a student being  hospitalized.

Later that month, the school stiffened penalties for  students caught
fighting. In addition to suspension,  they will be barred from
participating in  extracurricular activities for the entire semester.
A  new system also has been installed to ensure all  security cameras
are functioning, according to Garcia's  report.

The fights were not gang-related or racially motivated,  Garcia
said.

He suggested having an in-service day for staff to help  with gang
identification, though he says there are no  signs of any on campus.

The district's four officers already have undergone  such
training.

Superintendent Heath Burns said an undercover officer  from another
agency observed the campus.

"He did not see gang problems like he sees in similar  districts
surrounding us," Burns said before turning to  the presence of central
office administrators at the  school. "We're going to keep heading in
the right  direction until it's fixed."

During a Pearland ISD undercover operation, a Pearland  police officer
posed for three months as a high school  student wanting to buy drugs.
The operation led to the  arrests of 12 Pearland High School students
this month  on felony drug charges, district officials said.

"Pearland didn't think they had a drug problem until  they had the
undercover guy in the school," said  Angleton ISD Trustee Regina Bieri.

Garcia also said he wants to create a presentation for  students
letting them know the consequences for  following that lifestyle for
secondary students, while  concentrating on bullying at elementary
schools.

"I think the earlier we start with this the better off  we are," said
trustee Pella Vasut.

The heightened police presence could deter some  students from
fighting.

"If a kid was thinking, 'I want to get even with  Johnny' for whatever
he did that day," trustee Charlyn  Rogers said, seeing that police car
might get them to  cool off.

Police cars are now parked in front of the school  during the
day.

Having to wear uniforms also might do the trick.  Trustee Nancy Gayle
requested the issue be on the  agenda after a few parents approached
her about the  idea.

If there is continual unrest at the high school campus  and it's
determined to be gang-based, uniforms might  help eliminate the
problem, she said.

Gayle also mentioned it could be beneficial  economically, as parents
wouldn't have to spend money  on expensive clothes, and it could
improve students'  studies.

She suggested discussing the pros and cons of such a  move; however,
Vasut pointed out that road already had  been traveled in 1996 when
she brought the issue to the  board.

A survey was sent to parents and the board decided not  to pursue it,
she said.

"Prisoners wear uniforms and their behavior is no  better," Bieri
said, recalling someone's comments at a  past meeting when the issue
was discussed.

"I would have to be convinced that we would have major,  major
problems that this would solve," trustee Linda  Winder added.

"Right now, I'd have to be convinced that our high  school was way out
of control." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake