School Safety Study Urges Counseling

Los Angeles schools should provide more money for counseling and classes that teach students how to avoid violence and stay away from gangs, drugs and alcohol, according to a report on campus safety released Thursday.

The report, which listed 17 areas where immediate attention is needed, also urged that the Los Angeles Unified School District open more health clinics and substantially strengthen programs such as dropout prevention and career guidance.

But school administrators conceded that many of the recommendations have little chance of being funded because of increasing financial constraints.

“We’re asking for expansion in a climate of retrenchment but the reality is that safety and security at schools is an ongoing problem that doesn’t go away,” said Alfred S. Moore, a district administrator who coordinated the task force that compiled the report.

The report was released one day after the task force’s co-chairman resigned because he said the district is unwilling to commit the time and money needed to improve safety at schools.

“I will no longer be part of an LAUSD . . . sham to mislead the public into thinking that something is being done to combat school violence,” said David B. Michels, a Northridge parent and scientist. The school board appointed the 65-member task force in the spring of 1989 after a teacher was stabbed at school.

Moore, who praised Michels’ “tremendous work and excellent leadership” on the task force, said he understands Michels’ frustration.

“He has strong feelings about what we should be doing and I think he quit to motivate the board to respond to our report,” Moore said. “It doesn’t mean that safe and secure campuses are not a priority, it just means big-ticket items are not a priority.”

In addition to the multimillion-dollar cost of opening more school health clinics, the report recommended that the district spend $500,000 to expand multicultural educational programs, augment efforts to resolve arguments between students and improve the teaching of values.

Some of the recommended programs have been launched at some schools but should be expanded districtwide, the report urged. For instance, 40 Los Angeles teachers who are trained in conflict resolution must travel to other schools to train the staff. A program that encourages students to stay away from gangs by offering alternatives is offered at only 18 schools.