LOCAL SCHOOLS SEE RISE IN USE OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL

While schools around the state are reporting drop in many crimes on campus,
drug and alcohol use is on the rise in Santa Clara County and San Mateo
County schools, according to a report released today.

``We are actually seeing a sense of progress toward safer and better
schools,'' said Delaine Eastin, state superintendent of public instruction.

``When crime goes down, student achievement goes up.''

In its second annual California Safe Schools Assessment report, the
California Department of Education said that drug- and alcohol-related
offense rate declined by 6 percent statewide last year. Fights and other
batteries dropped by 7 percent while the cost of vandalism fell by 3
percent.

In San Mateo County, drug and alcohol offenses are up 9 percent. But
reports of battery were down 11 percent last year. During the 1996-97
school year, there were also 43 reported assaults with deadly weapons at
county schools, down 18 percent from the year before.

A San Mateo Union High School official said that the district's first look
at the numbers showed a definite improvement over last year's baseline
figures. But to do a straight-across comparison is not necessarily fair,
said Sam Johnson, associate superintendent for human resources and
administrative services.

The district strictly enforces a ``zero tolerance'' policy and the study's
numbers reflect that, he said. Other districts might not have such a policy
or enforce it as toughly as does San Mateo Union, he said.

The district has other indicators that reflect how the community feels
about the job it's doing to make safe schools, Johnson said. ``There are
anywhere from 200 to 300 families trying to come into this district via the
interdistrict transfer process. That's a clear indication to us we're doing
something right.''

In Santa Clara County, some districts bucked the statewide trend. Campbell
Union High School District led the county in drug and alcohol offenses and
reported more than three times the state average of batteries.

``We're obviously concerned about our rate, but you have to realize that we
are simply reflecting society,'' said Bruce Hauger, superintendent.

Drug, alcohol offenses

San Jose Unified had the highest rates of drug and alcohol offenses among
the county's unified districts. Officials said they have improved their
reporting procedures in the district, but that the 81 percent increase in
that area still has them concerned. ``This is not something we take
lightly,'' said Maureen Munroe, spokeswoman for the district.

Statewide, while some violent crimes against students and others appear to
be dropping, others are on the rise. Assaults with a deadly weapon shot up
17 percent last year.

Vandalism, graffiti, arson, and theft remain the largest sources of crime
in California schools. But the numbers reported also declined by 8 percent
during the 1996-97 school year. Still, those property crimes cost schools
$22.6 million last year.

In 1995, the state Legislature passed a law requiring all school districts
and counties to compile uniform statistics on school crime. This is the
second year the reports has been issued.

The validity of the data came under criticism last year, as many districts
struggled to find the most accurate way report to their crime rates.

This year, the state set up special training sessions for districts and
established a toll-free number that districts could call for technical
support.

``We anticipated that there would be some growing pains,'' said Jerry
Hardenburg of the state Department of Education, ``But we certainly have a
feeling that it is improving.''

Better at reporting crimes

But some Santa Clara County officials wonder if their crime has really gone
up or if, after two years of reporting, districts have just gotten better
at reporting it.

``If you were to say there is an 85 percent increase in people running red
lights,'' said San Jose Unified's Munroe, ``would you say there is an
increase in the incidents or really an increase in the fact that officers
are catching them?''

Mercury News reporter S.L. Wykes contributed to this report.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED The complete California Safe Schools Assessment report
is available online at www.cde.ca.gov/spbranch/safety/safetyhome.html