BOARD CALLS FOR ADDED MONITORING; METAL DETECTOR USE AT ISSUE FOR SCHOOLS.

Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer

Hand-held metal detectors should be used more often to randomly check students for weapons, members of the Burbank Board of Education said Tuesday in their first regular meeting since a student was stabbed to death Friday at Burbank High School.

While the board took no official action, board members and Superintendent David Aponik said during a workshop on school safety that the school district needs to re-evaluate its use of metal detectors.

``I hope we can scare some kids,'' said Elena Hubbell, a board member. ``We have to go to the principals and say pick some dates and do some random testing.''

Adam E. Smith, 17, was stabbed to death on campus Friday after a summer school session ended.

A 16-year-old male student, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, was arrested and is being held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. Police said he attacked the victim because of a dispute about the suspect's girlfriend.

The Burbank Unified School District bought hand-held metal detectors in March 1993, giving two to each high school and middle school. Since then, it has been up to each principal to decide how and when to use the detectors in each school's safety program.

Principals have used the devices on an as-needed basis when they receive word that there may be trouble brewing on campus, officials said.

But on Tuesday, school board members said the metal detectors need to be used more often to prevent students from bringing weapons to school. ``It's a deterrent for some kids,'' said board member Connie Lackey.

Burbank Police Chief David Newsham cautioned the board not to go overboard. ``Metal detectors are an interesting and effective tool, but they don't ensure anyone's safety,'' he said, adding that he does not favor a controlled-entry system requiring every student to pass a metal detector at a school's entrance.

Burbank High School Principal Ron Lipari, who had turned over control of the campus to a summer-school principal, said metal detectors are used on an irregular basis during the regular school year.

So far, searches with metal detectors have turned up no weapons, officials said. Students have been caught with weapons chiefly based on tips from observant teachers and other students.

In the 1997-98 school year, the Board of Education expelled 35 students for bringing weapons to school. A total of 16 brought knives to school, one brought a BB gun filled with darts and the rest brought other objects deemed dangerous by officials.

No students were caught with guns during the school year, said Ann Cocreham, district director of pupil services.