I.C. Schools Address Safety Concerns: Security Cameras Coming
By Gregg Hennigan, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Dec. 19–IOWA CITY — An uptick in fights and other behavioral problems among Iowa City school district students — particularly in the high schools — had the school board discussing safety issues last night.
The concern is high enough that security cameras are likely to be added at City High and West High and the district is considering adding resource officers at the two high schools who effectively would be security guards.
“We are seeing changes in behavior at both high schools that are unacceptable,” Associate Superintendent Jim Behle said.
In the first trimester of this school year, there were 11 physical fights at City High and four at West High. That compares with six at City High and 16 at West High all of last year.
Behle said that the fights are more vola tile than in the past and that there are more instances of “verbal defiance,” too.
Just on Tuesday, police were called to City High after a male student allegedly assaulted a female student (story, 2B) .
Earlier in the meeting, J.P.
Claussen, president of the Iowa City Education Association teachers union, said teachers this year are increasingly concerned about safety issues and were more ready than usual for the upcoming holiday break.
“Not only is it stressful (teaching), but many teachers don’t feel safe,” he said.
The school district is taking several steps to address the safety concerns, including with programs both on and off school grounds for students from the elementary school level on up, Behlesaid. Additionally, the district’s insurance company will go through City High and West High on Thursday to discuss locations for security cameras and lighting.
The district also will study whether to add resource officers at City High and West High who may be armed. Resource officers are used in other Iowa schools. Superintendent Lane Plugge said a final recommendation probably won’t come until the spring and the principals have been given the authority to hire more staff to handle supervision in the meantime.
Despite the increasing concerns, the percentage of 11th graders who feel safe in school has remained relatively constant since 1999, coming in at 88 percent in the most recent survey, Behle said.
Safety “is the highest priority for our students,” school board President Toni Cilek said.
¦Contact the writer: (319) 339-3175 or gregg.hennigan@ gazettecommunications.com
“Not only is it stressful (teaching), but many teachers don’t feel safe.”
J.P. Claussen
Iowa City Education Association
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