THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502040290
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Norfolk and Portsmouth officials learned Friday that their cities are among a handful nationwide that will share in a federal grant to create safer schools.
The local school systems worked together to secure the $508,238 grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education under the 1994 Safe Schools Act.
Both school systems have listed safety as a priority.
``I think we've seen a significant reduction in violence and in the number of weapons in the schools as we've focused on it, and this falls right in line with that focus,'' Norfolk Deputy Superintendent J. Frank Sellew said of the grant.
``I think we're going to see safer schools as a result.''
The goal of the project is to develop partnerships between schools and communities to reduce juvenile crime, court referrals and expulsions.
To document their need, the cities produced statistics showing that 5,052 youths in 1993 were referred to juvenile court - 3,632 in Norfolk and 1,420 in Portsmouth.
Of that number, 446 were arrested for violent crimes of rape, aggravated assault, robbery and murder. That year, the two cities accounted for 29 percent of the total number of juveniles arrested statewide for those violent crimes.
In Portsmouth, the funds will be used to help secondary schools develop a computer-based system to track discipline problems.
Schools can use the data to decide how to combat the problems, such as where to place security guards or camera monitors.
Norfolk received a federal grant several years ago to develop a similar system, called SMART, for School Management and Resource Teams. The program has helped Norfolk eliminate student offenses, officials said.
The grant will help provide training for teachers, parents and students in both cities. A two-member team from Norfolk schools will be trained in alternative discipline methods, using a program called ``Discipline with Dignity,'' and a person from both cities will attend a University of Virginia course called ``School Safety and Youth Aggression.''
In addition, the funds will send 240 students from both cities to a summer leadership academy.
Also as part of the 18-month grant project, a consultant will conduct safety and security surveys of secondary schools in the two cities and outline ways to make the schools safer.
A total of 19 grants were awarded nationwide.
Prince William County was the only other Virginia school system to receive one.
KEYWORDS: EDUCATION GRANT by CNB