DRUG USE CONCERNS SCHOOL OFFICIALS

ASHEVILLE - The number of reported crimes and acts of violence in Buncombe
County Schools is up slightly in 2000-01 from the year before, but
Superintendent Cliff Dodson said what really concerns him is the rise in
illegal drug use.

School officials reported 55 incidents in which a Buncombe student was found
in possession of a controlled substance, up from 45 in 1999-00, according to
the state's annual Report on School Crime and Violence. Statewide, drug
possession increased 12 percent to 2,809 incidents.

"We're beginning to see a re-emergence of interest in drugs among young
people, which should concern us all," Dodson said. "The schools have taken a
real aggressive stance in that area."

He said the drug of choice appears to be marijuana, probably because it's
more accessible in the community and cheaper than other drugs.

Karen Campbell, superintendent of Asheville City Schools, also voiced
concerns about student drug use, although the number of reports of drug
possession in the Asheville system dropped from 12 in 1999-00 to 10 last
year.

"I just think 10 incidents of a controlled substance in a school system our
size is way too high," she said. "That's an area I think our entire
community should be concerned about."

Overall, there were 139 reported incidents of violence and crime in Buncombe
schools last year, for a rate of 5.66 per 1,000 students. That's up from
4.93 per 1,000 the year before. Officials reported 49 incidents of weapons
possession, 18 assaults on school personnel, eight assaults resulting in
serious injury, three sexual assaults, two assaults involving a weapon and
two possessions of a firearm.

Lynda Adams, who has a fifth-grader at Oakley Elementary, said she believes
that school is "fairly safe."

"He has told me he feels safe in school," she said of her son. "That must
say something good about the school. The principal handles situations
effectively and quickly. Any little thing is taken seriously by the teachers
and her."

Kathy Ledford, who has children attending North Buncombe Middle and North
Buncombe High, said her kids haven't reported experiencing violence at
school. However, she's concerned about persistent bullying and threats,
particularly on school buses.

"There's a lot of verbal threats, and I think sometimes the schools don't
take that seriously," she said. "That one child that you don't take
seriously could be the one that causes a problem."

In the smaller Asheville school system, there were 34 reported incidents of
crime and violence, for a rate of 8.44 per 1,000 students, down from 8.94
the year before.

"We're pleased that we're improving a little bit," Campbell said. "However,
I think one act of violence in a school is too many. Safety is our No. 1
concern. Everything else is secondary. A lot of time and energy is devoted
to looking at every aspect of our school operation, being sure that it is as
safe an environment for our students as is possible."

Statewide, the number of reported incidents of crime and violence in public
schools increased to 7,586 or 6.28 acts per 1,000 students in 2000-01 from
7,229 incidents or 5.98 acts per 1,000 in 1999-2000. The total number of
incidents, however, is down from five years ago: In the 1996-97 school year,
8,141 incidents were reported.

State superintendent Mike Ward said that schools are generally safe, but
that any crime or violence is still too much.

"The increase is unacceptable," said Phillip J. Kirk, Jr., chairman of the
state Board of Education.

Three acts - possession of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance
and assault on school personnel - combined to account for 88 percent of all
reportable acts.

Possession of weapon increased 4 percent this year, up to 2,831 incidents,
while possession of a controlled substance increased 12 percent to 2,809
incidents. Assault on school personnel decreased 3 percent, totaling 1,063
incidents.

Three crimes - possession of a weapon, assault with serious injury, and
sexual assault - increased this year after exhibiting decreases in
1999-2000. Assault with serious injury was up 4 percent to 278 incidents,
while sexual assault increased 7 percent to 204 incidents.

Two crimes that increased last year - assault with a weapon, and sexual
offense - decreased in 2000-01. Assault with a weapon decreased 14 percent
to 133 incidents, while sexual offenses decreased 12 percent to 93 reports.
One rape and two kidnappings were reported, but there were no reports of
homicide, the report stated.

Elementary schools reported the largest overall increase - 12.5 percent - in
reported crimes. High schools increased 5.5 percent, while middle schools
reported a 1.9 percent increase.

A total of 744 students and 1,066 school staffers were victims of school
crime or violent acts in 2000-01, the report stated.

More than 7,900 students, including general population and those considered
"exceptional," were reported as offenders. Most of the incidents were
serious enough to report to local law enforcement. The most common
punishment was suspension from school for 10 days or less.