City takes steps to decrease risk of violence at schools
By Kara Chalmers
Saratoga community members are working together to reduce the threat of violence in the city's schools.
Recent shootings in a San Diego high school, as well as a narrowly averted disaster at De Anza College in Cupertino, have brought the issue of school violence into sharp focus for not only the schools, but also for parents and local law enforcement.
On March 6, the day after Charles Andrew Williams, 15, allegedly killed two classmates and wounded 13 people at Santana High School in Santee, near San Diego, Saratoga High students heard an announcement over the school's PA system by Principal Kevin Skelly and Assistant Principal Karen Hyde. The announcement said that students who have concerns about other students should come forward to the school's administration.
Before the violent attack at Santana, Williams had reportedly talked of bringing a gun to school and shooting up the campus, but no one took the threat seriously.
"We all have a collective responsibility to make this school as safe as possible," Skelly said about Saratoga High School. In the past, students have come forward with concerns about classmates and the school administration has always taken the concerns seriously, he said.
After the April 1999 school shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, when two students killed 12 others, a teacher and themselves, precautions where taken at Saratoga High School: Phones were installed in every classroom and new locks made it possible to lock classroom doors from the inside.
Some students say it is questionable if students would actually "snitch" on their classmates, especially if there is no concrete reason for them to be suspicious of someone. But many students say the opposite.
Senior Sheeva Ghassemi said that the combined effect of all the violent episodes across the country has made her extra sensitive to the issue. She said she could see students going to authorities, if they felt concerned about another student doing something violent. Other students said a system where students could first go to another student, rather than to an administrator or teacher, would work better.
At the March 8 Saratoga High Parent Teacher Student Association board meeting, parent and board member Agnes Gregorian, proposed forming a forum for parents to talk about what is heard around the home. Called Parent Link, Gregorian hopes the monthly get-together for parents becomes a place for them to voice concerns, and say 'this happened at school last week and I'm worried about it,' or 'I feel uneasy about this particular child.'
"I'm a mom, I hear rumors." she said. "I think this way, parents can feel a little safe and at ease, and know there's something once a month that's for them.
Parent Link is not affiliated with Saratoga High School or the PTSA. It would not become involved with the school unless a specific student becomes a real threat, Gregorian said. But the group is modeled after the school's Peer-to-Peer counseling service, she said. Gregorian said Parent Link is not an organization in which members gossip about kids--it's just to help.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is working on a series of public service announcements--a television spot and written advertisements--to run in Cupertino and, hopefully, in Saratoga. The campaign is aimed at encouraging people to come forward if they are worried about a certain person having violent tendencies, according to the Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Miles. Saratoga Mayor John Mehaffey said he would support such a campaign, using Saratoga's public access station, KSAR, and the city's website and newsletter, as well.
"It's not a legal obligation," Miles said about reporting violent threats, "But it's certainly a moral obligation."
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
