FRANKFORT — Reports of violence in Kentucky's schools dropped significantly last year, according to a report released Tuesday by the state's Center for School Safety.

        In the past two years, the numbers of reported assaults, theft, fights, arson and incidents involving guns have gone down.

        State officials are encour aged and they point to increased safety measures but they say declines are, in part, likely the result of inaccurate reporting by schools the first year.

        Kentucky lawmakers began requiring schools to report school-safety data in 1998, becoming only the ninth state attempting to address school violence by first gauging its dimensions. Ohio and Indiana do not track violent incidents statewide.

CRIMES IN KY. SCHOOLS

Offense 1998-99 1999-00 Arson 151 90 Agg. assault 875 183 Burglary 110 64 Rape 1 0 Larceny 656 557 Vehicle theft 8 22 Handgun poss. 33 17 Shotgun/rifle poss. 7 6 Other firearms 2 11 Other weapons 397 390 Robbery 60 25 Source: Kentucky Center for School Safety

        Tuesday's report is based on information from the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 school years. But this year's data may be a truer reflection of what's happening in Kentucky's schools, as schools have become more familiar with the reporting process, officials said.

        Northern Kentucky's schools appear to be safer than most. School crime rates for Region 4, a 14-county area which includes Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties, are generally below much of the state. Overall, Central Kentucky, which includes Lexington, has the highest rates. The southwest portion of the state has the lowest overall rates.

        Dayton Superintendent Gary Rye said increased awareness has reduced incidents and discipline problems. The district's teachers have been given more training on classroom management and cameras were installed at its schools last year.

        “School personnel have always been concerned with maintaining a safe environment for our students, but we never really had to worry about it,” Mr. Rye said.

        From 1998 to 1999, reported acts of aggravated assaults dropped 80 percent statewide, and incidents involving handguns fell nearly 50 percent. The number of students suspended for serious crimes also dropped by more than half.

        State officials attribute some of the improvement to a heightened focus on school safety. For example, nearly all schools now require visitors to sign-in and offer one or more violence prevention programs.

        Boone County Schools has been recognized statewide for its safety efforts. The district recently placed a police officer in all middle and high schools. It operates several crime prevention programs, such as Crimestoppers, and for the past three years, every school has had a safety committee of students, parents and staff.

        This year the district hired a school safety director, the first in Northern Kentucky and one of a handful across the state.

        Tuesday's report, which included state and region totals, was the first of three to be released by the Center for School Safety. The second and third reports, to come in January and February, will break down the numbers by demographics and individual school districts.

        While statewide data are helpful, the center's report is only a snapshot.

        “It doesn't matter how many (incidents) there are if it's your child. We want it to be zero,” said Boone County Superintendent Bryan Blavatt.
       

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