DATE: Friday, October 17, 1997              TAG: 9710170637

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH                        LENGTH:   48 lines

TOUGH SECURITY GREETS WILSON STUDENTS

Throngs of students with tentative looks on their faces darted their eyes and complained as they waited in line to pass through metal detectors Thursday at Woodrow Wilson High School.

The additional security was part of a plan developed by teachers and administrators Wednesday, following a brawl Tuesday that sent 22 students to a school nurse and closed the school.

Many students had expressed fear and concern about the charged atmosphere that led to Tuesday's fight, but they were not pleased with the new policing procedures.

``I feel like we are in prison,'' said Juniour Williams, an 11th grader.

``Every corner you turn there's a teacher bugging you to go to class,'' said another student.

Outside the school, police officers roamed the sidewalks, shouting through bullhorns, ordering students straight to class.

Inside, administrators and teachers played security personnel, hustling youngsters from the hall to homeroom. Even the cafeteria, a regular stop for many students, was closed for breakfast.

Welcome to post-fight Wilson.

Principal William Gibson started the school day by talking to students over the school's public address system. Gibson acknowledged students' fears and asked that they report troublemakers.

Teachers engaged students in dialogue throughout the day to comfort them and to involve them in the discussion about improving the school environment.

``Until we get kids talking, it's not going to change anything,'' said Kerri Albertson, district spokeswoman.

In meeting Wednesday with Superintendent Richard Trumble, about 140 teachers and administrators identified problem students, overcrowding, and lax authority as issues that may have helped spark the violence.

Albertson said the school system is doing its best to address all those issues, Kerri Albertson, a district spokeswoman, said.

Said Fe-Fe Colden, a junior: ``I'm scared.''

Sophomore Jami Pressley was more optimistic. ``It's just a fluke thing that happened,'' she said. ``It's going to go away in a couple of days.'' MEMO: Wilson High School will hold a PTA meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday

in the school auditorium. Parents are invited to come and discuss their

concerns about this week's incident. KEYWORDS: RIOT WILSON HIGH SCHOOL

INJURIES

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