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City schools report more violent incidents in 2006-2007

Public schools in Philadelphia and the rest of the state recorded more violent incidents in 2006-07 due in part to school officials' stricter adherence to reporting requirements, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's annual safety report.

Public schools in Philadelphia and the rest of the state recorded more violent incidents in 2006-07 due in part to school officials' stricter adherence to reporting requirements, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's annual safety report.

Incidents of bullying, for example, rose to 1,827 in '06-07 from 1,085 in 2005-06.

"While we always will have to be diligent in ensuring that our schools are safe, the latest statistics show schools are, for the most part, doing a solid job of creating and maintaining a quality environment for learning," state Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said.

The report represents all safety information submitted by the state's 501 school districts and 135 charter schools.

Internal data from the School District of Philadelphia indicates that violent incidents rose by 5.7 percent between '06-07 - 6,339 - and '07-08 - 6,703, said James Golden, head of the district's safety office.

Violent incidents are those involving assaults, morals offenses, robbery, incendiary fires, weapons, drugs and alcohol and abductions and attempted abductions.

All incidents across 30 categories rose by 9.2 percent, from 18,253 to 19,920, Golden said.

"Generally the vast majority of our schools are safe, but clearly there are some where we have more safety challenges, and that is where we are targeting intervention," Golden said.

Last year 40 troubled schools received more funding and personnel to combat disorder. Golden said 19 of the schools experienced reductions in incidents.

H.R. Edmunds School in Northwood had the biggest improvement, reducing incidents by 63.5 percent. Next was Mastbaum High, with 55 percent fewer incidents, followed by West Philadelphia High School, which reduced incidents by 52 percent.

"While the district is moving in the wrong direction, we are heartened that some of the schools where we have provided targeted intervention have seen decreases in incidents," Golden said.

Across the state, there were 8,218 fights in '06-07, 7,391 assaults on students and 2,714 assaults on staff, according to the state report.

There were 518 sexual offenses, 254 robberies, 231 incidents of racial or ethnic intimidation and 39 firearm possessions.

Next week the state Department of Education is expected to release a list of persistently dangerous schools for 2008-09. Golden said 20 Philadelphia schools are on the list, up from 12 last year. *