District Heightens Security, Expands Weapons Searches
A greater focus on campus security--including plans for more on-the-spot weapons searches--has accompanied the start of classes in the Compton Unified School District.
School posters and letters being sent home to parents outline an expansion of student safety programs that district officials credit with a 41% overall decrease in campus crimes last year compared to the previous year.
A planned increase in the frequency of weapons searches at district high schools is among the measures announced last week. District spokeswoman Vivien Hao said campus administrators are being trained to conduct random searches with hand-held metal detectors.
A hotline for reporting anonymous crimes is also part of the push, as are plans to involve more parents in reducing campus crime, Hao said.
“We’re getting smarter about how to secure our schools,” she said.
The district is also employing 63% more assistant security personnel than last year, raising the number of unarmed security staff members from 35 to 57. Not included in that number are the 32 sworn members of the Compton School Police.
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