VIOLENT CRIME AT SCHOOLS DECLINING

State Report Shows Rise In Drug And Alcohol Offenses At Local Secondary
Schools.

Newly released school crime statistics reveal a surge in drug and alcohol
offenses over the past three years in Santa Barbara area high schools. But
at the same time, the reports show that violent crime on these campuses --
never very high -- dipped to even lower levels.

The report, California Safe Schools Assessment, tracks crime on campuses,
including drug and alcohol offenses, fighting, weapons possession and
vandalism.

Santa Barbara Superintendent of Schools Michael Caston was not surprised by
the increase in reports of drugs and alcohol, which have doubled since the
1995-96 school year. Most of the reported incidents, he said, involve
possession or use of marijuana on junior high and high school campuses.

"We're seeing a lot more of that in our expulsion hearings," he said. "It's
something that concerns us ... It seems to be a nationwide trend. At the
same time, we've never worked harder than we are now at fighting this ...
We've even had some children expelled for cocaine, but that looks to be on
the decrease."

In the 1997-98 school year, there were 133 reports of drug and alcohol
offenses in the Santa Barbara High School District. Two years ago, there
were only 59 incidents.

The other large high school district in the county -- the Santa Maria Joint
Union High School District, with 5,767 students -- had 61 incidents last
year, slightly down from 68 reported two years ago.

Other high school districts across the county had relatively few reports.

Overall, said Santa Barbara County Schools Superintendent Bill Cirone, the
state department report verifies that schools are still the safest place in
society for children to be.

"I think the big picture is good news," he said.

Indeed, there has been a decrease in the past three years in the number of
batteries -- considered any type of force or violence upon another person.

"We've had major decreases in fighting and knives," Caston said.

In the Santa Barbara High School District, there were 38 batteries reported
in 1995-96, but only 26 last year.

Batteries were also slightly down overall in the county.

Other categories included in the report are assault with a deadly weapon,
robbery/extortion, sex offenses, property crimes and dollar loss to the
district per student. The county's elementary schools had very few reports
of crime and violence.

Caston said there were no reports of guns on Santa Barbara school campuses
last school year.

"The couple of 'assaults with a deadly weapons' we reported were fights that
turned into something being thrown at someone, or someone kicking someone,"
he said.

Reports of weapons possession involved mostly knives, Caston added.

School officials said there are strict policies in place to deal with drug
and alcohol offenders.

On the first offense, students are counseled and ordered to do community
service and to attend teen court, Caston said. Police are called in to make
a report. In some cases, students are arrested.

On the second offense, they are automatically expelled from the district.
Such students typically end up at El Puente Community School, a program run
by county schools.

If students are caught selling drugs, they are immediately expelled.

When school officials suspect trouble, students are often routed to Fighting
Back counselors, who are represented at each of the junior high and high
schools in Santa Barbara and Goleta.

Nanci Bratcher, Fighting Back youth services coordinator, said the
organization has worked to heighten awareness about the signs and symptoms
of student drug and alcohol use.

"That may be one of the reasons why there are more expulsions," Bratcher
said. "Staff awareness is higher, schools have become more vigilant and more
kids are being referred to get help."

In their own surveys of students, Fighting Back counselors have found that
drug use has actually decreased since the organization began its outreach at
schools seven years ago, Bratcher said.

"Also, there are places now that the youth can go for resources. They're not
just being busted and punished," she said.

Overall in the county, 284 property crimes at schools cost districts
$132,690. These were mostly tied to vandalism, theft and graffiti.

"It's a gang-type thing," Caston said. "They get together, and part of the
thrill is to get away with something like that."

But still, reports of property crimes were fewer here than statewide.

"For a district like ours, we don't get a lot of vandalism on our
buildings," Caston said. "The culture of Santa Barbara is respect for the
school, it's not really cool to go out and vandalize."

There were no reports of hate crimes at any of the county campuses.

In the Carpinteria Unified School District, there were eight reports of
property crimes. But the district reported mostly "0" or occasionally "1" in
every other category across the board. The district has 3,104 elementary and
high school students.

Bob Keatinge, director of Carpinteria's curriculum and instruction,
attributes the low numbers to informing students about the rules.

"The key is we have very clear standards and expectations in terms of
behavior, and consequences, and the kids know it," Keatinge said.