Guess how officials handled a similar problem at Estancia and a few other high schools? They tore down the handball courts.
The forward thinking at Costa Mesa high didn't stop with handball. The security staff has a habit of seeing a need for improvement and acting on it. Along with Gomez, the staff consists of Albert Marron, Cristina Maaba and School Resource Officer John Gates.
My introduction to the enthusiastic security team came after a talk with Costa Mesa Middle School principal Kirk Bauermeister. He was discussing the middle school campus and his upcoming move to TeWinkle Middle School. He was telling me that you can't educate if the kids don't feel safe when he led me into the campus safety office. That's when I was astounded.
He had shown me the video cameras, but I didn't know there was software that could track where problems were common and who was in trouble and how often and why.
The technology allows the security team to watch certain areas closely on camera and on foot and to know when a student needs special attention. The security staff is also equipped with palm pilots to carry with them that have every student, their schedule, any gang affiliation and their picture. Quite helpful when combating trespassing issues.
Before this program started about three years ago, the middle school had a problem with gang activities, tagging and theft.
Now, the tagging is virtually gone. Better than that, the students with crew affiliation have become fewer and the children who are still hanging out in these groups, aren't associated with disruptive activity.
