KEEPING SCHOOLS SAFE

Area Schools Employ Metal Detectors, Dogs And Student Crime Stoppers
Program To Keep A Lid On Weapons In Their Halls

Students tattling on armed classmates and administrators handing down
mandatory expulsions for weapons possession have helped Amarillo schools
reduce the number of weapons found on campus.

The number of students expelled for bringing guns to school is declining
nationally, but Texas reported the highest number of gun-related expulsions
with 294 incidents in 1998-99. That's down 31 percent from the previous
school year, the U.S. Department of Education reported.

Amarillo Independent School District reported three students were expelled
for two weapons incidents in 1998-99, but none for 1999-2000.

Canyon and Highland Park independent school districts reported no
expulsions for weapons during the last two years.

River Road ISD reported one student expulsion for the 1998-99 school year,
for an unloaded weapon in a car. The district had no expulsions for weapons
in 1999-2000 and has not had any this school year.

Student Crime Stoppers gives students a chance to make some money and keep
schools safe by reporting other students with weapons, said coordinator
Brian Thomas.

Thomas said awareness of the program has grown, and students know that if
another student or a teacher think they are carrying weapons, they will get
caught.

The program isn't seen as tattling or ratting out a friend, Thomas said.

"For most, it's a safety thing," Thomas said. "Others are calling in
because it's cash."

Students with tips that result in found contraband receive $200, double
what was given when the program began offering money for information on
drugs and guns in 1994.

The amount was increased in 1998.

Tascosa junior Sabrina Hubbard said students don't know who tells about the
guns or drugs because it's all anonymous.

"No one talks about it, and you keep your mouth shut," she said.

Hubbard said Thomas' presence keeps students in line and the campus a safe
place.

Thomas said the penalty for bringing a gun on campus is spelled out in
state law and does not give campus administrators much choice in how to
punish offenders.

The Texas Education Code mandates that a student in possession of a firearm
at school or a school event be expelled for at least a year.

The length of expulsion can be modified by the superintendent depending on
the age of the student or other extenuating circumstances.

Tascosa Principal Bob Daniel said the punishment is more than fair.

"There is no issue more important than school safety," he said. "If kids
understand that we take a dim view, I think that helps."

Highland Park Independent School District is taking a pro-active stance
against school violence. Security cameras, random visits by drug sniffing
dogs and a metal detector are used to keep students and staff safe at school.

High School Principal Mark Driskell said the equipment and Student Crime
Stoppers help deter students from bringing weapons.

A walk-through metal detector at the front entrance usually goes unused,
but Driskell said he could ask a class to walk through if any students were
suspected of carrying weapons.

High school students have no lockers or backpacks, reducing the places to
hide weapons, Driskell said.

Drug-sniffing dogs brought on the Highland Park campus about twice a month
detect anything from Tylenol to guns. Each vehicle the dogs indicate as
suspicious is searched, and nothing illegal has been discovered, Driskell said.

"I can say pretty confidently that there's nothing in them," he said.

More than 50 security cameras monitor hallways, entrances, exits and common
areas, allowing the administration to watch 24 hours a day and from any
computer in the district's network.

"It's still a school; we don't want it to be a prison," Driskell said. "We
take every measure to make sure our students and staff are safe."

According to the Texas Education Agency Web site, Texas had 3.9 million
students in 1998-99 with 294 gun-related expulsion incidents.

By comparison, California had 5.8 million students enrolled for 1998-99 and
290 gun-related expulsions. New York had 2.9 million students enrolled for
the same year with 206 gun-related expulsions.