Romey Calls for Watch Groups to Help Prevent School Violence

A candidate for the Los Angeles school board said Tuesday that “schools have become arsenals” and called for the organization of community watch groups to reduce on-campus violence.

“Knives and guns are becoming as prevalent as textbooks,” Barbara Romey said at a news conference across the street from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Division in Northridge. She and four other candidates are seeking incumbent Julie Korenstein’s West San Fernando Valley seat on the school board in the April 11 election.

Romey said parents, teachers and neighbors must keep closer watch over schools by forming community watch groups. The groups would operate much like Neighborhood Watch, in which neighbors are encouraged to call police if they see strangers or suspicious activity, she said.

Stronger Enforcement

Romey also called for stronger enforcement of a state law that calls for expulsion of students caught with weapons on campus, as well as the district’s prohibition of gang-related clothing. She criticized Korenstein for failing to take steps to stem growing violence--such as the stabbing last week of a Sylmar junior high school teacher by a student.

“Nobody in the West Valley is taking the leadership to be sure our classrooms are safe,” Romey said.

Korenstein said she has worked for months to fight classroom violence. She said she will present the board with a plan Monday to form a task force of educators and police representatives to study ways to reduce school crime.

“Within three months, I want to have a viable plan to reduce the violence,” Korenstein said.

Romey said the district should reduce its practice of transferring students with disciplinary problems from one school to another. She also called for random inspections of student lockers for weapons.