BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

Allentown High School officials are working proactively to prevent gangs from gaining a foothold in the district.

At the Oct. 18 Board of Education meeting, AHS Principal Christopher Nagy said that gang activity is "all around us" in nearby communities. He said that Princeton and West Windsor high schools have been dealing with gang problems over the past year and a half.

He said that law enforcement officials told him the No. 1 thing to do to avoid the establishment of gangs in the community is to educate parents and get them involved.

According to Nagy, the high school is trying to set up a Parent-Teacher Organization and a Parent Academy to help keep any gang-related activity out of the school.

In the school, a state police officer has already conducted a program for AHS faculty to make them aware of gang color schemes and apparel, such as Philadelphia Flyers hats, he said.

"The staff are aware of it," Nagy said. "If they see it, they'll flag it."

Nagy's remarks about gang activity came after Upper Freehold Regional School District's interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Smith talked about violence, vandalism and substance abuse in district schools during the 2005-06 academic year.

During 2005-06, district schools had a total of 36 reported incidents involving violence and substance abuse. There was a total of 41 offenders involved in 17 incidents concerning violence and 19 incidents concerning substance abuse, according to Smith.

In 2004-05, there were 29 incidents involving 40 offenders reported in the district. Twelve of those incidents included violence, 16 involved substance abuse and one consisted of vandalism.

Smith said there is a question of whether the increase from 2004-05 to 2005-06 reflects a higher number of incidents or if it reflects greater vigilance on the part of school authorities.

"I can't answer that," he said. "I hope we are more vigilant."

Smith said that School Violence Awareness Week is held in schools statewide Oct. 16-20. He said it is very difficult for law enforcement and other agencies to meet the demand for school presentations during the five-day period.

Among the programs offered at the Upper Freehold Elementary/Middle School during this year's School Violence Awareness Week were an Internet safety program on cyberbullying for grades five through eight, a distribution of conflict resolution posters and a tolerance assembly for grades seven and eight.

At AHS, the electronic bulletin board system was broadcasting messages on violence and respectful treatment of others, and a period of time was set aside on Wednesday for silent sustained reading (SSR) focused on violence awareness.

Resident Marc Covitz asked if counseling or referrals are provided to kids on the fringe, meaning those who are actively using drugs and those getting suspended.

"Those are the type who end up getting involved in gangs," he said.

Smith said AHS has a student assistance counselor on staff. The elementary/middle school has a part-time counselor, according to Smith.

Covitz also noted the recent controversy over AHS' Lifesavers Club, a student organization that promotes an anti-substance abuse message.

"Lifesavers is great, but it's preaching to the choir," Covitz said.

Nagy said students are proud of their school and often let staff know if illegal activity is going on. He also said AHS has hall monitors, some of whom are retired law enforcement officials.

"They don't want drugs in the school," Nagy said. "These individuals started to crack down. We saw the numbers [of substance abusers] go up."

AHS has a discipline policy for students found to be under the influence of drugs and for those found to have drugs in their possession, according to Nagy.

Students suspected of being under the influence are sent for a drug test, according to Nagy. While awaiting the results of the test, the suspected student is put on medical leave. Students must get a doctor's note stating it is safe for them to return to school.

Those who test positive for drugs must bring their parents in to the school to meet with the student assistance counselor. They are given a list of professionals who may assist the family, according to Nagy, though the school does not pay for such counseling or treatment.