VENTURA : District to Set Up Weapons Hot Line

Ventura high school students will soon be able to call a 24-hour hot line to report on pupils carrying weapons to school and other issues that may threaten their safety, officials said.

The board of the Ventura Unified School District also decided at its meeting Tuesday night to put up signs at the district’s middle and high school campuses warning students that bringing weapons--or even toy guns--to school will result in automatic expulsion.

Supt. Joseph Spirito said the district’s policy in the past regarding some items, such as a penknife, was not clear. From now on, he said, any student carrying even the smallest knife will be expelled.

In another move to step up security, administrators, staff and maintenance people will be required to wear photo identification badges whenever they visit Ventura, Buena and Pacific high schools, Spirito said.

The superintendent said the new safety measures, including the telephone hot line, should be in place within three weeks. He said students and parents will be given cards with a telephone number that they can call to give information.

Spirito said he met Wednesday with Ventura Police Chief Richard Thomas and City Council members Tom Buford and Cathy Bean to discuss hiring a police officer to establish an anti-gang program for high school students.

Spirito said it would cost more than $60,000 to pay the annual salary and benefits of a police officer. The financially strapped district is asking the city to share the costs.

The two council members told Spirito on Wednesday that the city is having its own budgetary problems and that they would have to consult with the rest of the council before making a decision.

The district has increased security at its three high school campuses since the fatal stabbing of a Ventura High School student in January. Jesse Strobel was killed off-campus in what police believe was a gang-related attack.