George,

Last year the Charlottesville City Schools commissioned a very detailed study of the state of security at our schools. An outside consultant, Gage-Babcock and Associates, conducted the study which included thorough physical surveys and evaluations of existing security measures at each of our schools, an evaluation of the immediate environment in which each school is located and meetings at each school with a group of parents, teachers and administrators to discuss their relevant concerns. At the high school, students were included as well.

The lengthy (500 pages or so) report was reviewed by a committee made up of principals, policemen, parents, school board members, central office administrators, and city staff charged with overseeing our school buildings and grounds. I was one of the parents on the committee. One of the other parents was a UVA psychologist who specializes in adolescent behavior, Joe Allen.

We met half a dozen times or more and took very seriously our charge to review the findings of the consultant and make recommendations to the school board. We unanimously rejected the idea of installing security cameras in our schools. (Though, it should be noted that security cameras are used on some of our school buses. This is done in recognition of the fact that it's pretty difficult to drive a bus safely and monitor the behavior of fifty or sixty students at the same time.)

Our committee felt very strongly that the best way to address the safety of our school children was by focusing our attention and resources on helping kids who are troubled. Here is what we said:

"While advocating the need to correct or improve site and facility safety, it is the unanimous recommendation of the School Security Committee that the City of Charlottesville and the Charlottesville City Schools focus their available resources on providing policies and programs designed to confront and correct the behavioral issues that are most likely to lead to student violence. Internally, Charlottesville City Schools must develop programs that identify students with behavioral difficulties and provide help in resolving the root cause of their behavioral problem, train faculty and staff in the proper means of identifying and handling risky situations and refocus the student's unacceptable behavior to promote academic achievement and cultural maturity. Externally, Charlottesville City Schools, in partnership with parents and the community, must develop programs that fully engage the parents and community in the academic success of the students. "

The full text of the executive summary of the committee's findings can be viewed on the PTO Council website at: http://monticello.avenue.gen.va.us/ptocouncil/hilite_security.html

Though we certainly recommended addressing some basic issues such as improving exterior lighting and traffic safety at certain schools, and providing more walkie talkies here and there, our primary recommendation concerned addressing the needs of children whose demonstrated behavior might lead to violence. Needless to say, it is vitally important that such an effort be carried out with great care. The Superintendent and his staff, at the direction of the School Board, are working to implement these recommendations.

Erin Garvey (electronic mail, January 9, 2000).