School district says there's no need for gang-specific program
Second of a two part investigation into gang concerns at Simi schools
By Miguel Morales miguel@theacorn.com

Beginning in elementary school with the DARE program and later at community facilities like the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club, Simi Valley's young people are taught early and often about the perils of being involved in a gang.

But if a student does make that dangerous choice, there isn't much teachers and administrators can do- even if they are aware of the gang affiliation- until that student's behavior lands him or her in trouble.

So what is being done at Simi schools to deter students from joining gangs?

According to Bill Waxman, director of secondary education, the Simi Valley Unified School District has no formal program in place specifically designed to combat gang involvement in schools.

He said that since the number of recorded gang incidents on campus is so low compared to the number in school districts such as Los Angeles Unified, such a program isn't necessary.

"The student resource officers are what we have to work with (in schools)," Waxman said. "(The district) would take a more proactive stance the moment we felt the need to do so."

The district does, however, have a way to keep in line students who've shown signs of gang involvement: a student behavioral contract.

All schools have a slight variation of the contract, Waxman said, a written agreement made between the student, his or her parent(s) and the school's principal.

The contract outlines what a student must do and not do to avoid expulsion for the remainder of the semester, he said. It can be drawn up as a result of recurring behavior issues, such as skipping class, talking back to teachers or fighting, but at the request of a parent it can also be used to keep certain students apart.

The contract can contain goals for students, such as keeping up their GPA and attendance record, as well as restrictions on hanging out with certain persons on campus, Waxman said.

Tracy Rohlfing, principal of Apollo High School, said her school has a class scheduled in the afternoon just for students who are on behavioral contracts. Teachers send their assignments to the class and the students do their regular classwork away from the distractions of the other students and their friends, she said, so that they can't get into any trouble at school.

"It's a wakeup call for the students," Rohlfing said. "Lots of students want to go to Apollo and for those that aren't cutting it they need to pull it together or face being kicked out."

Rohlfing said only after a student gets in trouble several times does a behavioral contract become necessary.

"It's the last step we want to take and we do a lot for the student before they get to that point," Rohlfing said.

Though gang prevention may not be a priority in Simi Valley Unified, peer pressure still exists in some circles, especially within families, according to SVPD Sgt. Darin Muehler, who heads the department's gang unit.

One local gang has a long history of gang activity in Simi and many of the members feel proud of that heritage and want to pass it on to younger siblings, he said.

Those who want to get out of a gang once they've joined may have a hard time getting away from it and many are scared to even try, he added.

"Every gang has their rituals. To get into a gang you have to get jumped and to get out of a gang you have to get jumped," Muehler said. "The second one is usually worse."

What parents can do to prevent gang involvement

+ Spend quality time with your child + Get involved in your child's school activities + Be a positive role model and set the right example + Know your child's friends and their families + Teach your child how to cope with peer pressure + Help your child develop good conflict resolution skills + Encourage your child to participate in positive after school

activities with adult supervision (recreation centers, organized

sports, youth groups) + Take action in your neighborhood (create a neighborhood

alliance, report and remove graffiti) + Talk with your child about the dangers and consequences of gang

involvement

www.cops.usdoj.gov www.fbi.gov www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org