August 3, 2005   Student assaults in county's high schools up 25 percent By RYAN BAGWELL, Staff Writer County high schools saw a 25 percent increase in reported student assaults in the last school year, with the biggest spikes at Glen Burnie, Old Mill and Southern, school statistics show. High schools reported 807 assault offenses, 165 more than in the previous school year, according to data obtained by The Capital under the state's Public Information Act. But assaults increased only modestly in relation to the student population. In the 2003-04 school year there was about one high school assault for every 32 students. Last year there was an assault for every 28. School administrators and county school board members struggled to explain the increase, but said administrators are scheduled to present a plan to the board today that addresses safe and orderly schools. "I have no idea why they're going up," said Konrad M. Wayson, president of the school board. "But that's why we're looking into trying to get it under control." The countywide increase also surprised county teachers' union President Sheila Finlayson, who had heard of increases at some high schools around the county but wasn't aware of the year-to-year jump. "I knew that there were some pockets, but nothing as drastic as that," she said. "That's kind of scary." Glen Burnie High School had the most student assaults, 127. That's an increase of 84 percent from last year, or about one offense for every 16 of the high school's 2,117 students. Southern High posted the highest percentage increase in assaults. Reported offenses jumped by 89 percent last year, with 70 incidents reported. Old Mill had the third-highest number of offenses reported with 90, up from 59 in the previous school year. That's an increase of about 52 percent. With 25 offenses, Severna Park High had the fewest student assaults last year. South River High reported 27. The 2004-05 school year follows two years of declines in assaults at county schools. Assault data includes reported offenses for fighting as well as unprovoked attacks on students. Jose M. Torres, assistant superintendent for student support services, said the increase could be the result of more diligent reporting. Principals at Glen Burnie, Old Mill and Southern were new to their schools last year, he said. "Changes in administration can have an impact on the reporting of things," he said. A recent survey by the 21st Century Foundation found that an increasing number of county students don't feel safe in their classrooms According to the survey, released in late May, the percentage of 11th-graders who felt safe in their schools fell from 82 to 74 percent. A spokesman said the May survey's school-by-school data wasn't available yet. Glen Burnie Principal Sam Salamy said he hasn't seen an increase in assaults at his school. "I don't think incidents are on the rise," Mr. Salamy said. "I think we're reporting them more accurately." Southern Principal Jason Dykstra, who took the post last year, didn't return calls for comment. The plan that administrators are scheduled to present today calls for adding administrators to high schools with the most discipline problems, Dr. Torres said. Officials are also working to install security cameras at Glen Burnie High next year. The school's Business Advisory Board raised $20,000 to help pay for the cameras, and central administrators said they plan to fund the rest soon. In response to a racially tinged beating of a student in January, Meade High School will also have cameras installed by the first day of school, Superintendent Eric. J. Smith has said. Five high schools and one middle school already have security cameras. http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2005/08_03-31/TOP Back To Guvment Skool Page 8 COPYRIGHT "DUHMAG.COM" 2005