Anti-gang efforts now being enforced in schools

A set of regulations enforcing a new anti-gang policy has been put into place by the school district.

By: Lea Kahn
   Two months after the adoption of an anti-gang policy, a set of regulations enforcing the new policy has been put into place by the school district.
   Superintendent Philip Meara unveiled the regulations at the Board of Education’s Nov. 15 meeting.
   The policy, adopted by the school board in September, defines a gang as an on-going association or group of three or more persons whose primary activity is the commission of criminal acts.
   While there has not been a reported upswing in gang activity in Lawrence, the Police Department said they had received several reports of gang-related graffiti in the hallways and boys bathrooms at Lawrence High School last year.
   Lawrence Middle School Principal Andrew Zuckerman has said the initiation of the policy shows a "pro-active approach" by the district.
   The policy bans recruiting for gang membership or gang-related activities, and conducting gang initiations. It also deals with dress code and related issues, and allows for an "intervention" for a student who may be in violation of the policy.
   The regulations, prepared by school district administrators, give teeth to the policy. However, flexibility is built into the regulations to allow school building principals some leeway in dealing with the issues.
   "What we found when we were doing research is that it is difficult to create a list of banned items," Mr. Meara said. "In meetings with the chief of police (Daniel Posluszny) and the Mercer County prosecutor’s office, (we found) the items change very frequently."
   The regulations prepared by school district administrators prohibit students from wearing bandanas, as well as beads in gang colors and patterns. Students may not have tattoos indicating gang relations or involvement.
   Also, students may not wear clothing, accessories or symbols identifying relationships with the Latin Kings, Bloods, Crips, Netas or any subset of a gang, or that promotes gangs or gang activity. Sports team apparel is often associated with specific gangs.
   The regulations ban students from using nonverbal methods of communication that could be construed as promoting or endorsing gangs or gang activity, such as hand signs. Students are banned from using comments or verbal signals that indicate a connection to a gang, such as "Blat," "What’s crackin’," or "Snitches get stitches," according to the policy. Writings or other media that promote or endorse gangs or gang activity also are banned.
   Interventions include discussing with the student his or her behavior, clothing or conduct. There may be a meeting with the student, his or her parents or guardians, the principal and the Police Department.
   If a student has violated the regulations, the principal may tell the student to immediately remove or stop using any specific items or behavior, without being disciplined. If a student refuses or continues to violate the regulations, he or she may be disciplined.
   The regulations allow for a range of disciplinary measures — from detention, suspension to expulsion. The regulations also provide for other forms of discipline, such as performing community service as a substitute for punishment or attending a program that educates the student on the dangers of gangs and gang behavior.
   If school property has been defaced or damaged, the student may be required to replace it or repair. If the student is under 18, the parents may be held liable for damages.
   The regulations allow the principal some latitude in dealing with violations, ranging from interventions to imposing disciplinary measures. The principal makes the decision, based on the circumstances.
   "It gives the principal the ability to say to a student, ‘You may not know that T-shirt is gang-related, don’t wear it again,’" Mr. Meara said. "If you do wear it again, you could be punished."