P.V. Schools to Draw Up Plan to Discourage Gangs

Fearful that imitation of gang-related behavior by students could attract real gang members to the peninsula, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District trustees are seeking a strict anti-gang measure that would include expulsion as a sanction.

“I don’t think we have a problem with gangs, but I think we have kids who like to pretend they’re in gangs,” said board member Jeffrey N. Younggren, who introduced the matter at Monday’s regular board meeting.

“All we need is for the inner-city kids to begin to think that the Palos Verdes kids are playing like they’re gang members, and I live in fear of what that could mean,” Younggren said. “We might begin to have some problems because our wanna-bes attract the real thing.”

Supt. Michael Caston told the board that he will prepare an anti-gang policy proposal for the June 3 meeting. Caston said other districts in Los Angeles County have approved similar policies.

“I think this is a serious problem,” said board Vice President Joseph Sanford. He said gang members from the harbor area regularly cruise through the peninsula.

Sanford said district students who imitate gang members by wearing their distinctive clothing or flashing hand signs are making targets of themselves and their families. “They set themselves up for people who could come in here and mistake them for actively involved gang members,” he said.

It was Younggren who suggested that the policy require that any violators be brought before the school board for possible expulsion. “I want to be aggressive early about it,” he said. “I don’t want to be aggressive too late.”