CRIMES IN SCHOOLS

This is in Sunday's Sun-Sentinel

Breakdown of Palm Beach County school crime
June 29, 2008

SCHOOL CRIME
Total reported cases of crime fell in the Palm Beach County School District in the 2006-07 school year according to one of the two annual crime surveys compiled by the state:

Type 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
Violent acts 803 659 673
Alcohol,

tobacco, drugs 747 776 687
Property 313 329 346
Harassment 745 688 651
Other

nonviolent

incidents 624 506 494
Fighting 3,099 2,803 2,872
Disruption

on campus 245 201 168
Weapons

possession 405 344 301
Total 6,981 6,306 6,192
Notes: Other nonviolent incidents include sexual offenses and trespassing cases. The separate Florida School Indicators Report lists 7,917 total cases in 2006-07, which includes 1,792 bullying incidents not shown here.

Source: Florida Department of Education, 2006-07 School Environmental Safety Incident Report

School crime report numbers differ; state checking into the numbers
Officials search for reasons behind Palm Beach County discrepancies

By Marc Freeman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
June 29, 2008

One crime report leaves the impression that Palm Beach County schools have become more dangerous places. But another survey says campuses are getting safer.

So which is it? Criminal incidents are definitely dropping, local officials insist.

Statistics appear in two state Department of Education reports: the Florida School Indicators Report and the School Environmental Safety Incident Report. The safety report breaks crimes into more categories, but the totals on both annual reports typically have had little variation — until now.

The latest Indicators Report shows that the number of property-related crimes at all county campuses rose from 326 in 2005-06 to 2,093 in 2006-07, a 542 percent increase. Yet the Safety Incident Report for the same time period shows an increase in vandalism, theft and breaking-and-entering cases from 329 to 346, a 5.2 percent rise.

"That doesn't make sense at all," Dave Benson, assistant director of the school district's Safe Schools department, said of the discrepancy.

Tom Butler, spokesman for the state Education Department, said staff members are investigating.

"We are continuing to examine the coding for [the property crime] category to determine if any data is out of place," he said.

The Indicators Report shows there were a total of 7,917 criminal incidents at Palm Beach County schools in 2006-07, and the Safety Incident Report lists 6,192 cases.

The Indicators Report total is higher because it includes 1,792 bullying cases not shown in the other report, Butler said.

Benson thinks the bullying incidents were somehow lumped under property crimes, rather than under fighting and harassment.

George Lockhart, principal of Roosevelt Middle School in West Palm Beach, says he agrees with that theory.

The Indicators Report showed that property crimes at Roosevelt Middle soared from 10 in 2005-06 to 61 in the 2006-07 school year. Lockhart said that's wrong. Also, the latest Safety Incident Report shows just seven property crimes on that campus.

Schools Police Chief Jim Kelly said the bottom line is that schools are safer places thanks to vigilance and prevention programs.

The Incident Report shows 114 fewer cases than the previous year, when there were 6,306 reported crimes. That matched a state trend of fewer incidents.

Despite those improvements, national civil rights groups in the past year have attacked the school district over its discipline practices. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Washington, D.C.-based Advancement Project are targeting the "needless criminalization" of children.

Superintendent Art Johnson insists his administration is limiting the number of students entering the criminal justice system.

The Safety Incident Report shows that despite the overall reduction in cases, some categories of crimes increased. There were 652 battery incidents, up from 625 the year before, but still less than the 779 events reported in 2005.

Meanwhile, there were no homicides or kidnappings, and one reported rape. Tobacco cases fell from 377 to 302, and weapons possession totals declined from 344 to 301.

The most recent data is for the 2006-07 school year. Statistics for the recently concluded 2007-08 school year won't be out until 2009.

The state reports are based on surveys turned in by the schools. One campus could appear safer on paper than another because incidents can go unreported and administrators may not properly classify crimes despite guidelines. The state has advised against taking the information at face value.

Chief Kelly says schools each year are doing a better job of both preventing crime and reporting what does happen. The prevention programs include the "single school culture" discipline method, in which all teachers and staff use positive reinforcement to maintain order.

On the Indicators Report, the campuses with the most reported incidents, by grade level, were: Lincoln Elementary in Riviera Beach with 172; Congress Middle in Boynton Beach with 257; and Seminole Ridge High in The Acreage with 199.

On the flip side, Don Estridge High Tech Middle in Boca Raton had 10 incidents and Suncoast High in Riviera Beach had 21 cases. Also, 14 county elementary schools reported not a single crime.

Addison Mizner Elementary in Boca Raton is one of those that had zero cases. Principal Donna Binninger credited "good parenting, good teaching and good control. We run a real tight ship here."

Marc Freeman can be reached at mjfreeman@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6642. 542%The increase in Property-related crimes 2005-2007 (*Indicators report) 5.2% Vandalism, theft, breaking and entering 2005-2007 (* Safety incident report) For a breakdown of the Florida Department of Education, 2006-07 School Environmental Safety Incident Report, 6 B


GREAT QUOTE CHIEF, THANKS FOR LETTING US KNOW WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. ATLEAST AJ GAVE CREDIT TO HIS ADMINISTRATION.........................perfect example of how badly we need change.

Yes you are right we do need change so why dont you leave?

School crime report numbers differ; state checking into the numbers
Officials search for reasons behind Palm Beach County discrepancies

By Marc Freeman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
June 29, 2008

One crime report leaves the impression that Palm Beach County schools have become more dangerous places. But another survey says campuses are getting safer.

So which is it? Criminal incidents are definitely dropping, local officials insist.

Statistics appear in two state Department of Education reports: the Florida School Indicators Report and the School Environmental Safety Incident Report. The safety report breaks crimes into more categories, but the totals on both annual reports typically have had little variation — until now.

The latest Indicators Report shows that the number of property-related crimes at all county campuses rose from 326 in 2005-06 to 2,093 in 2006-07, a 542 percent increase. Yet the Safety Incident Report for the same time period shows an increase in vandalism, theft and breaking-and-entering cases from 329 to 346, a 5.2 percent rise.

"That doesn't make sense at all," Dave Benson, assistant director of the school district's Safe Schools department, said of the discrepancy.

Tom Butler, spokesman for the state Education Department, said staff members are investigating.

"We are continuing to examine the coding for [the property crime] category to determine if any data is out of place," he said.

The Indicators Report shows there were a total of 7,917 criminal incidents at Palm Beach County schools in 2006-07, and the Safety Incident Report lists 6,192 cases.

The Indicators Report total is higher because it includes 1,792 bullying cases not shown in the other report, Butler said.

Benson thinks the bullying incidents were somehow lumped under property crimes, rather than under fighting and harassment.

George Lockhart, principal of Roosevelt Middle School in West Palm Beach, says he agrees with that theory.

The Indicators Report showed that property crimes at Roosevelt Middle soared from 10 in 2005-06 to 61 in the 2006-07 school year. Lockhart said that's wrong. Also, the latest Safety Incident Report shows just seven property crimes on that campus.

Schools Police Chief Jim Kelly said the bottom line is that schools are safer places thanks to vigilance and prevention programs.

The Incident Report shows 114 fewer cases than the previous year, when there were 6,306 reported crimes. That matched a state trend of fewer incidents.

Despite those improvements, national civil rights groups in the past year have attacked the school district over its discipline practices. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Washington, D.C.-based Advancement Project are targeting the "needless criminalization" of children.

Superintendent Art Johnson insists his administration is limiting the number of students entering the criminal justice system.

The Safety Incident Report shows that despite the overall reduction in cases, some categories of crimes increased. There were 652 battery incidents, up from 625 the year before, but still less than the 779 events reported in 2005.

Meanwhile, there were no homicides or kidnappings, and one reported rape. Tobacco cases fell from 377 to 302, and weapons possession totals declined from 344 to 301.

The most recent data is for the 2006-07 school year. Statistics for the recently concluded 2007-08 school year won't be out until 2009.

The state reports are based on surveys turned in by the schools. One campus could appear safer on paper than another because incidents can go unreported and administrators may not properly classify crimes despite guidelines. The state has advised against taking the information at face value.

Chief Kelly says schools each year are doing a better job of both preventing crime and reporting what does happen. The prevention programs include the "single school culture" discipline method, in which all teachers and staff use positive reinforcement to maintain order.

On the Indicators Report, the campuses with the most reported incidents, by grade level, were: Lincoln Elementary in Riviera Beach with 172; Congress Middle in Boynton Beach with 257; and Seminole Ridge High in The Acreage with 199.

On the flip side, Don Estridge High Tech Middle in Boca Raton had 10 incidents and Suncoast High in Riviera Beach had 21 cases. Also, 14 county elementary schools reported not a single crime.

Addison Mizner Elementary in Boca Raton is one of those that had zero cases. Principal Donna Binninger credited "good parenting, good teaching and good control. We run a real tight ship here."

Marc Freeman can be reached at mjfreeman@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6642. 542%The increase in Property-related crimes 2005-2007 (*Indicators report) 5.2% Vandalism, theft, breaking and entering 2005-2007 (* Safety incident report) For a breakdown of the Florida Department of Education, 2006-07 School Environmental Safety Incident Report, 6 B


GREAT QUOTE CHIEF, THANKS FOR LETTING US KNOW WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE. ATLEAST AJ GAVE CREDIT TO HIS ADMINISTRATION.........................perfect example of how badly we need change.
O.K. you did a great job, you lead the crusade to protect our children, Your a hero, your medal is on order...we are planning a parade, maybe a statue outside the DAC, a extra day off in your honor, now you happy you insecure, self centered donkey.

The two that replied display perfect examples of why the morale of this PD is so horrible. If the article didnt have AJ's quote, the Chiefs quote would not have looked "as bad". But, it shows you that the Chief does not care about you, and if you think different, you are delusional. Look around you, look who makes boss, or gets a unit to drive around in (D.S.).

The two that replied display perfect examples of why the morale of this PD is so horrible. If the article didnt have AJ's quote, the Chiefs quote would not have looked "as bad". But, it shows you that the Chief does not care about you, and if you think different, you are delusional. Look around you, look who makes boss, or gets a unit to drive around in (D.S.).
You are right...all the PBA represenitives...everyone of them.

Look you guys are not getting a raise, you are not getting cars and you are noy getting any smarter. But what you are getting is on my nerves. Look around, you idiots think you deserve anything ? Why dont you earn it. All you morons ever do is look for someone to blame for your own failures. Look in the mirror jackasses this is why you are treated the way you are. You get what you deserve and that is nothing. If stupidity was the nation's gross national product you jerks would have the market cornered.

Look you guys are not getting a raise, you are not getting cars and you are noy getting any smarter. But what you are getting is on my nerves. Look around, you idiots think you deserve anything ? Why dont you earn it. All you morons ever do is look for someone to blame for your own failures. Look in the mirror jackasses this is why you are treated the way you are. You get what you deserve and that is nothing. If stupidity was the nation's gross national product you jerks would have the market cornered.

Thanks for the pep talk, I bet you lead the deparment in mentoring.