Local school crime information posted

A total of nine reportable acts of crime and violence occurred in Alleghany County Schools during the 2007-08 school year, according to information recently released by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

During the 2007-08 school year, the high school reported seven cases of possession of controlled substances, one case of possession of an alcoholic beverage and one sexual assault. The numbers equate to a total of 5.714 acts per 1,000 students.

According to information reported for the school system during the 2006-07 school year, the high school reported one case of a bomb threat, one case of possession of an alcoholic beverage, two cases of possession of a controlled substance and four cases of possession of a weapon. Glade Creek School reported one case of possession of a weapon during the 2006-07 school year.

The organization released a consolidated report with information on crime and violence statistics, suspensions, expulsions and dropout numbers and rates March 5. DPI released information regarding the dropout numbers and rates last month.

Of Alleghany's recently released numbers regarding crime and violence, Superintendent Jeff Cox remarked, "This is something we look at each year to see if we're having any patterns of particular types of incidents. We'll look at ways to try to reduce the number of total incidents we are having."

He also offered thanks to the school staff "for the outstanding job they do to keep all our students safe.

About the Report

The release of the consolidated report on school crime and violence, suspensions and expulsions and annual dropout rates is a first of its kind, according to DPI. Of the 11,276 acts of crime and violence in the state, possession of a controlled substance in violation of the law tops the list at 4,968. Possession of a weapon excluding firearms and powerful explosives came in second with 3,752 acts. Other acts include possession of an alcoholic beverage (948), assault on school personnel not resulting in serious injury (926), bomb threat (122), possession of a firearm or powerful explosives (113) and burning of a school building (18). Acts that are considered to be "violent offenses" represent 3.8 percent of the acts reported during the 2007-08 school year. These include: assault resulting in serious injury (109), assault involving use of a weapon (101), sexual assault not involving rape or sexual offense (93), sexual offense (61), robbery without a dangerous weapon (61), taking indecent liberties with a minor (two), robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping (one each), and rape and death by other than natural causes reported no offenses during the 2007-08 school year.

Surrounding Area

The Elkin City School System reported the fewest acts of crime or violence of school systems in the surrounding area. The five acts (for a total of 4.062 acts per 1,000 students) that were reported included three reports of possession of an alcoholic beverage, one of possession of a weapon and one of a sexual offense.

Neighboring Ashe County reported 18 acts of crimes and violence for a total of 5.562 acts per 1,000 students. Of these, one was of an assault resulting in serious injury, three were possession of an alcoholic beverage, 10 involved possession of a controlled substance and four involved the possession of a weapon.

Surry County Schools reported 56 acts of crime or violence during the 2007-08 school year for a total of 6.648 acts per 1,000 students.