Saturday, October 30, 1999
Educators here ask: Have we done enough?
Safety measures at schools vary among districts
BY CHRISTINE WOLFF
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When Ross Superintendent David McWilliams visits Butler County's Morgan Elementary School, he often forgets he can't enter through the kitchen door off the parking lot. This year, it's locked.
At Anderson High School in Anderson Township, three people have been arrested this school year for roaming school halls without authorization.
In the Reading school district, emotions flared this month between parents and school officials over a suggestion that the district consider arming teachers.
And in Cincinnati Public Schools, daily random searches of students, lockers and classrooms have cut the number of weapons brought into CPS schools.
Keeping schools safe dwarfs most other educational issues as the century comes to a close. Friday, it was prominent again when Cleveland's South High School was closed and four students arrested in an alleged plot to harm others.
Following last April's deaths at Columbine High School in Colorado, and a series of school shootings nationwide, the Cleveland incident evokes a chill.
Educators continue to ask:
Have we done enough to make sure it doesn't happen here?
“We were in meetings this summer with police organizations, and one comment they made really hit hard,” said Mike Amos, director of operations at Oak Hills Local School District. “They said, "no matter what they had in place at Columbine, those kids were going to get in.'
“And that is scary,” he said.
Around the Tristate, safety measures once considered unnecessary are in use — locked doors, rumor hot lines, security guards, cameras monitoring hallways, ID badges, and drills to secure students inside classrooms. And officials still look for ways to prevent a tragedy.
“All of us get frustrated sometimes when we have to walk all the way around the building to the front entrances,” Mr. McWilliams said. “But we adjust. We're all working on awareness.”
Awareness means educating the public, too, said Mike Hall, Anderson High principal. A graduate recently visited Anderson, he said, and, ignoring signs telling visitors to sign in at the front office, walked upstairs. He was arrested — as were two others found in the building this school year without authorization. They face trespassing charges. If they had argued about it, they could also be charged with interfering with a public school official.
“You do it our way, or you'll be arrested,” Mr. Hall said. “We're not casual about security.”
In Reading, Superintendent John Varis hired self-defense expert Debbie Gardner to help teachers learn how to survive a violent situation. He wants to put bullet-proof vests in school offices, and wants to take teachers to a firing range so they know the sound of a gunshot.
During the discussions, the idea of whether teachers should have access to guns surfaced — and caused some in the community to call for Dr. Varis' removal.
“My theory is to brainstorm — to explore what are (teachers') best options to maximize coming out and bringing out as many people as possible with you,” Dr. Varis said.
In Cincinnati Public Schools, where, last May, nearly half of Walnut Hills High School's students stayed home one day after a bomb threat, there are “defensive and proactive steps in place to recognize threats and react to them,” said Robert Morgan, the district's security chief and a retired Cincinnati Police Division commander.
Incidents have been rare in the CPS, Ohio's third-largest district with 45,600 students.
“We don't let any of those rumors go unchecked,” Mr. Morgan said. “You're always going to have dark-thinking individuals who are plotting a major kind of thing.”
Many CPS schools have video cameras, security guards and parents who volunteer to patrol the halls. Some schools require see-through backpacks.
In 1994, the district created six two-member response teams — most are retired police officers — to conduct daily random searches of students, classrooms and lockers in CPS' 77 schools, said Donald Boegeman, response team leader.
In 1994-95, CPS team members found 10 guns. In 1995-96, they found two; in 1996-97, two; in 1997-98, four, and last year, zero.
Knowing the consequences helps decrease school violence, students said.
“You don't have to be in a major fight, but you can get a big punishment,” said Belinda Rogers, 15, a Taft High School sophomore from Cincinnati's West End. “I saw a fight recently here, and the six kids all got an 80-day expulsion. So most people think about the consequences before getting into a fight.”
After-school clubs have helped improve student relationships, said Taft student Jessica Sneed, 15, from Over-the-Rhine.
“And teachers are willing to talk to you one-on-one about whatever you want,” said Taft student Larnell Williams, 17, Mount Auburn.
In Kentucky, Kenton County Superintendent Susan Cook said it's too soon to measure the success of safety efforts.
“If we can talk about respect and fairness and trustworthiness, as those become expected behaviors, we feel like that can make a difference,” Dr. Cook said.
At Milford High School, officials were happy to find they could back away from tight security measures without losing ground.
A rash of rumors last spring about potential violence caused Milford officials to ban book bags and to conduct daily searches of purses and gym bags. This fall, the searches have ended and book bags are back — though they must be stowed in lockers during the school day.
Still evident are security cameras, a locked-door policy and a Student Leadership Council developed to talk over concerns with school administration.
“We asked ourselves, "What's the reality and what kind of school do we want?' ” said Principal Larry Hook. “It's wonderful here this year. The kids truly were upset with those who allowed all that to happen last year.”
Sue Kiesewetter, Dana DiFilippo, Andrea Tortora and Betty Kim contributed to this story.
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TRISTATE DIGEST
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