School crime stats a mixed bag

--Eron Ben-Yehuda

A report released by the state Department of Education this week

showed that most local school districts experienced an increase in drug

and alcohol offenses, but half saw a decrease in property crimes. The

results for violent offenses were mixed.

Huntington Beach Union High School had 89 cases involving drugs and

alcohol in 1998-1999 compared to 124 the year before. But Huntington

Beach City School District found more drugs and alcohol on its campuses,

though there were fewer reports of battery, with only 21 instances

compared to 36 in 1997-1998. Ocean View Elementary reported seven

instances of weapons possession compared to three in 1997-1998. And

Fountain Valley experienced little change with 13 property crimes last

year as opposed to 15 in 1995.

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