"Dr. Peter Sheras, an internationally renowned authority on school violence, says campuses in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County are not immune from the types of shootings that occured in Arkansas, Colorado and Michigan. At the request of the county's school board, Sheras will speak about prevention and intervention at Monticello High School on March 21 at 7:00 p.m." (Brian Cohen, The Observer, March 8-14, 2000).

"When asked if a shooting similar to Columbine High School can happen here, Sheras said, 'Yes, We've learned that no population is immune'" (Brian Cohen, The Observer, March 8-14, 2000).

Just last August, local administrators tightened their own security measures at area schools.

"In an interview on Friday, Sheras said he planned to talk about the schools' responsibilities for prevention and intervention with regard to school violence. Sheras said schools need to know more how to respond to bomb threats, use metal detectors properly and form effective policies" (Brian Cohen, The Observer, March 8-14, 2000).

"'There are things which we can do in elementary schools, so the next generation of kids will be less likely to act out violently,' said Sheras" (Brian Cohen, The Observer, March 8-14, 2000).

"Both national and Virginia statistics indicate that juvenile violence and violence in schools is declining (Brian Cohen, The Observer, March 8-14, 2000):

Homicides in U.S. public schools have declined from 42 during the 1993-94 school year to 21 in the 1998-1999 school year. Assaults have also declined.

Juvenile arrests for homicide have decreased since 1993. Other violent crive has also declined.

In Virginia public schools, serious assaults have declined. Weapons violations have also declined.

(Statistics provided by the Youth Violence Project)