Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Vandalism Spurs Boost in High School Security

The Antelope Valley Union High School District is increasing security at its five comprehensive high school campuses in hopes of reducing vandalism.

The district board of trustees unanimously agreed Wednesday to increase the workday of eight of its campus security supervisors from six to eight hours. The move means all 32 members of the district’s security staff will work eight-hour days.

“This is long overdue,” Trustee Sophia Waugh said.

The district has seen the amount of vandalism at its schools steadily rise, particularly over the last year, said Jan Medema, the district’s risk management director.

In the past 12 months, vandalism has cost the district $150,000, she said. Most of the costs have been related to the cleanup of graffiti and the replacement of broken windows and stolen equipment.

Between October, 1992, and October, 1993, Medema said vandalism cost the district $36,619 at Antelope Valley High; $42,586 at Palmdale High; $26,940 at Highland High; 34,385 at Littlerock High, and $2,665 at Quartz Hill High. Vandalism amounted to $4,376 at the district’s continuation school, Desert Winds, and totaled $2,500 at the district’s adult education facility.

Currently, security supervisors work at the district’s five comprehensive campuses from about 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., said Supt. Robert Girolamo. With the expanded hours for the previously part-time supervisors, there will be more security personnel on campus during lunch time, which is the most common time for problems among students.

Increasing the hours will cost the district an additional $51,320 above the $752,557 that was budgeted for security in the current year.

The Antelope Valley high school district, Girolamo said, also has a private security company patrol its campuses in the evening hours.