ANGLETON ISD DISCUSSES CAMPUS SAFETY

ANGLETON -- Increasing police officers' presence, offering training
to staff and talking more with students are ideas being implemented
to improve campus security and safety at Angleton High School.

Police Chief Domingo Garcia told Angleton ISD trustees last week
about the department's continued efforts to maintain visibility at
the campus, especially when there are high numbers of students in
certain areas.

The discussion came a few weeks after eight fights at the school in
October resulted in five citations and three arrests.

One of the fights resulted in a student being hospitalized.

Later that month, the school stiffened penalties for students caught
fighting. In addition to suspension, they will be barred from
participating in extracurricular activities for the entire semester.
A new system also has been installed to ensure all security cameras
are functioning, according to Garcia's report.

The fights were not gang-related or racially motivated, Garcia
said.

He suggested having an in-service day for staff to help with gang
identification, though he says there are no signs of any on campus.

The district's four officers already have undergone such
training.

Superintendent Heath Burns said an undercover officer from another
agency observed the campus.

"He did not see gang problems like he sees in similar districts
surrounding us," Burns said before turning to the presence of central
office administrators at the school. "We're going to keep heading in
the right direction until it's fixed."

During a Pearland ISD undercover operation, a Pearland police officer
posed for three months as a high school student wanting to buy drugs.
The operation led to the arrests of 12 Pearland High School students
this month on felony drug charges, district officials said.

"Pearland didn't think they had a drug problem until they had the
undercover guy in the school," said Angleton ISD Trustee Regina Bieri.

Garcia also said he wants to create a presentation for students
letting them know the consequences for following that lifestyle for
secondary students, while concentrating on bullying at elementary
schools.

"I think the earlier we start with this the better off we are," said
trustee Pella Vasut.

The heightened police presence could deter some students from
fighting.

"If a kid was thinking, 'I want to get even with Johnny' for whatever
he did that day," trustee Charlyn Rogers said, seeing that police car
might get them to cool off.

Police cars are now parked in front of the school during the
day.

Having to wear uniforms also might do the trick. Trustee Nancy Gayle
requested the issue be on the agenda after a few parents approached
her about the idea.

If there is continual unrest at the high school campus and it's
determined to be gang-based, uniforms might help eliminate the
problem, she said.

Gayle also mentioned it could be beneficial economically, as parents
wouldn't have to spend money on expensive clothes, and it could
improve students' studies.

She suggested discussing the pros and cons of such a move; however,
Vasut pointed out that road already had been traveled in 1996 when
she brought the issue to the board.

A survey was sent to parents and the board decided not to pursue it,
she said.

"Prisoners wear uniforms and their behavior is no better," Bieri
said, recalling someone's comments at a past meeting when the issue
was discussed.

"I would have to be convinced that we would have major, major
problems that this would solve," trustee Linda Winder added.

"Right now, I'd have to be convinced that our high school was way out
of control."