High Schools Take Steps Against Gangs : Ventura: Officials call for a strict dress code, an end to off-campus lunches and the hiring of security guards.

Three weeks after the fatal stabbing of a Ventura High student, school officials announced Friday a series of measures to crack down on gang activity on campuses including hiring uniformed security officers.

Other security measures include a strict new dress code policy, the cancellation of off-campus lunch passes and, to reduce the possibility of drive-by shootings, the closure of Poli Street near Ventura High.

“There is a perception in the community that our campuses are not safe,” Supt. Joseph Spirito said in announcing the new safety measures.

“I am convinced that we have done everything to ensure safety,” Spirito said. “But because of recent events I think we have to take a stronger stand.”

The superintendent’s actions were prompted by the recent slaying of Jesse Strobel. The Ventura High student was stabbed to death on Jan. 29 as he walked home late at night from a part-time job at his father’s pizzeria in the Pierpont area.

Police said they believe the attack was gang related. John Strobel, Jesse’s father, said his son told him last month that gang members at Ventura High School had severely beaten one of his friends and had warned Jesse, “We’re going to get you.”

Since Strobel’s death, the community has rallied together to demand that school and police officials step up their efforts to curb gang activity in the community. A town hall meeting last week on the issue drew more than 700 people.

Still, Spirito said Friday he expects that some parents and students will oppose the new restrictions at Ventura High as being too stringent.

“We’re not trying to run a prison,” he said. “We’re trying to run an institution that guarantees safety.”

Some of the measures, such as the closing of Poli Street and the elimination of off-campus passes at Ventura High may only be temporary, Spirito said.

Both measures, which take effect Monday, will be implemented on a 30-day trial basis. After that time, the superintendent said, he will decide whether to recommend that they become permanent.

But the new dress code policy that will be implemented at Ventura High next week “will be forever,” Spirito said.

In a statement released to the press, Spirito said that all hats, headbands and headgear “other than that which is appropriate” would be prohibited. But the superintendent explained later that all hats, headbands and headgear would be banned. Spirito said Ventura High is the only campus in the 25-school district that does not have a hat and headband policy now.

Spirito said he will encourage teachers and administrators at all of the district’s schools from now on to “draw a hard line on all dress that in anyway leans toward gang affiliation.”

Letters were sent home to parents on Friday notifying them of all the new safety measures.

Ventura High students caught violating the new dress code or sneaking off campus at lunchtime will be issued a warning and their parents will be contacted by school officials. Those caught a second time will be subject to immediate suspension.

A number of details still need to be worked out in regard to other security measures. For example, the school board will decide at its meeting Tuesday night whether to follow Spirito’s recommendation and hire three security officers to patrol Ventura, Buena and Pacific high schools. Pacific High is the district’s continuation high school.

The board will also have to decide whether the security guards should be armed, and if it’s possible to hire Ventura police officers to do the job.

On Friday, students gathered at Chicken Lovers, a sandwich and burger stand on Main Street across from the Ventura High campus, dismissed the new safety measures as petty and unnecessary.

“I think it’s really stupid,” said Micah Hayes, a 15-year-old sophomore who sported a gray bandanna. “It’s not for our safety. They just want to make parents feel like they’re doing something.”

As for the cancellation of off-campus passes, he said that students will still find a way to leave school at lunchtime.

“It’s easy,” he said. “There are a lot of different ways.”

Lora Grimes, a 17-year-old freshman at Ventura High, also took a dim view of the superintendent’s actions.

“It’s not a school anymore,” she said. “It’s a jail.”

Several students said they plan to address the school board Tuesday about the new policies. Others said they will either not comply with the safety measures or stage some type of protest next week.

“I’m not going to let the school stop me from wearing a bandanna,” said Kyle Moneypenny, 15, who wore a green scarf on his head Friday. “It’s completely dumb. Gang members don’t even wear hats and bandannas.”

Spirito said the district has recruited 10 parent volunteers to help supervise the campus during the 30 days that Poli Street is closed. He said the volunteers are needed to ensure that students do not go off campus during lunch and to monitor traffic safety problems that may arise from the street closure before and after school.

School board president John Walker said he fully supports the superintendent’s anti-gang measures.

“Personally, I’m at the point where I feel there’s enough danger that we need to do something,” he said. “We have to make sure our schools are safe.”