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Security issues continue to be a top concern in New York City's 1,300-plus schools, highlighted by the recent arrest of a high school principal accused of tussling with a police officer stationed in the building.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel Klein have made security a top priority. Last year, 16 of the most violent schools were placed on an "impact" list, meaning intense security efforts focused on them. These efforts reduced major crime 43 percent last year, says Rose Albanese-DePinto, senior counselor in the Office of School Intervention and Development.

But this increased police presence, coupled with overcrowding, led to tension between administrators and the police in many schools. "Who is in charge when an incident takes place--the principal or police?" asked Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Jill Levy.

DePinto says her office works closely with CSA, noting that part of the impact school protocol requires principals to meet with safety officers daily.

The education department has allocated $120 million to add cameras in 145 schools; so about 155 now have cameras. Plans are also in place to add 50 new X-ray screening devices to the 90 already in use. Some $500,000 went to make the discipline code available in nine languages and an eight-week theater arts program aimed at reducing bullying and violence for 5,000 6-9 graders. In addition, DePinto is expanding her department's 13-point comprehensive safety assessment beyond the impact schools and looking at other troubled schools in the system.

Despite these efforts, New York's City Council has clashed with the department on the issue of school security. Recently the council overrode Bloomberg's veto of three laws involving school security, establishing new education department requirements:

* Post information about school crime and disruptive behavior on school "report cards."

* Report how many school safety officers are assigned to each school, and how those assignments are made.

* Review every city school to determine if security cameras are needed, and issue a report of which schools have cameras and which do not, and why by the end of 2006.