July 20, 2001

Grossmont high schools should keep a full-time police officer on all campuses, review numbers of school counselors and consider partnerships with community and social services agencies, a district commission may recommend.

The Grossmont Union High School District's Lesson's Commission -- 11 community leaders appointed to suggest ways to improve campus safety following the March shootings at Santana and Granite Hills high schools -- began drafting initial suggestions this week.

The group expects to refine and add recommendations before delivering a final report to district trustees next month.

Among the recommendations the commission is considering are some the district has committed to, including having full-time resource officers at the district's 12 campuses. Officers have been at each school since the shooting at Santana High. The district is working with law enforcement and other government agencies to obtain money to defray the $1 million annual price tag, district officials said.

Other recommendations the group is considering include police checks of all campuses for safety problems before school starts, schools annually reviewing plans for handling natural disasters, violent incidents and other crises and holding regular emergency drills, commission co-chairman Lionel Meno said following the group's meeting Wednesday.

The group may suggest that starting in the fall schools consider whether they have enough counselors, said Meno, dean of San Diego State University's College of Education. Districtwide, there is one counselor for every 785 students, compared with a state average of one counselor for every 543 students.

The group considered encouraging schools to explore partnerships with social service and community organizations, such as social workers and the Boys & Girls Clubs. Members also suggested the district include repairing or replacing worn out campus security and communications systems in plans for a proposed bond measure.

The commission is working on strategies for combating bullying and ensuring students feel comfortable and connected academically and socially at school.

Before making final recommendations, members expect to consider the concerns and suggestions of parents, students and school staff that were gathered in recent surveys. The commission plans to present its report to trustees Aug. 21.

District officials have denied repeated requests by The San Diego Union-Tribune to open the commission's meetings to the public, saying they are concerned it would prevent members from being candid. An attorney for the district contends the commission, which was appointed by the superintendent, isn't required to meet in public.

Union-Tribune legal counsel Scott Wahrenbrock said because the commission was created with the district's endorsement and is giving recommendations on critical issues of public concern, state law mandates that it meet in public.