Meeting to Examine Gang Violence at Schools

VENTURA —  Worried by a rash of gang violence in and around school campuses, city and school officials are planning an emergency meeting today to discuss the problem.

Ventura Supt. Joseph Spirito will meet at City Hall with Mayor Jim Friedman, City Manager Donna Landeros and school trustee John Walker.

Spirito said he also met with Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury on Monday to discuss organizing a “gang summit.”

“I asked him what we can do to prosecute thugs when they come into our classrooms and schools,” he said.

Bradbury suggested holding a gang forum in the next two months at which Police Chief Richard Thomas, school officials, prosecutors and legislators would brainstorm about how best to keep dangerous youths off the streets.

The sudden attention to gang activity follows two incidents in the last week. On Feb. 25, officers said members of a Montalvo gang stormed a Buena High School bus, smashing glass and injuring several students.

Then on Monday, five gang members rushed into a Pacific High School continuing education classroom at the Ventura Boys & Girls Club and beat a 16-year-old over the head with a chair, officers said. The student received stitches to close a 2-inch gash in his forehead.

Police initially thought the incidents might be related. But Ventura Police Lt. Carl Handy said Tuesday they were not.

“We’ve arrested seven kids and closed out the attack at the school,” he said, referring to the Monday chair beating. “They are all Ventura kids from different neighborhoods. They have all been arrested. They are not related to the school bus.”

He said the school beating was retaliation for a gang incident Friday.

The school bus attack is still under investigation.

What frustrates school officials is that they are almost powerless to do anything in such cases.

Spirito, for one, wants legislation to keep dangerous youths under control.

“How can we keep these kids from getting back on the streets again?” he asked. “If these kids are brazen enough to come off the streets and into classrooms at the Boys & Girls Club, maybe the laws are not punitive enough.”

Mayor Jim Friedman, too, expressed a desire for action.

“It is just frustrating that you can’t get your hand around it and deal with it,” he said.

At today’s meeting, officials will exchange ideas for what they can do to work more closely together to curb the violence.

“This is really a microcosm of society,” Spirito said. “We need to come up with some ideas. Maybe we can get some help from the police. Or more city resources. Or more school resources. We will be brainstorming.”