CAMPUS SECURITY TIGHTENED AT SCHOOL; MOORPARK HIGH OPENS WITH CAMERAS, PATROLS.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

Security will be tighter at Moorpark High School when classes resume next month, with security cameras, beefed-up patrols and a guard posted at the main entrance to the campus, officials said Friday.

These measures, in addition to the anticipated hiring of a uniformed police officer in November, aren't in response to any particular incident, officials said. Instead, the steps are part of a district plan to avert trouble at the 2,000-student campus.

``Moorpark High School is a very relaxed place,'' Assistant Principal David Baldwin said. ``I don't think we've had a lot of problems at all. But the commitment is to keep that way.''

School security became an issue across the nation following the April 20 massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., that left 15 people dead.

An Associated Press poll released Friday found that 65 percent of 1,016 people surveyed nationwide felt that a police presence in schools would curb violence, and 50 percent thought that metal detectors would help.

Baldwin said that the district's decision to beef up security is in response to situations that occurred in California and elsewhere.

``I think people want to be better prepared, and they're looking at their own situation and saying maybe it's not adequate for the 1990s,'' he said.

Shortly after the Columbine massacre, the City Council and school board approved stationing a police officer at the campus. The $109,000 cost for salary and benefits is expected to be financed by $10,000 from the Moorpark Rotary Club, with the remainder to be paid by a state grant to the city and district.

However, there has been a delay in the state grant, which means the uniformed officer probably will not be on campus until November, school board President David Pollock said.

In addition, 16 security cameras, at a cost of $400,000, were installed over the summer at strategic points throughout the campus, Baldwin said. They will continuously record events on tape and can be monitored by administration officials at a central office.

The district also has ordered the auxiliary parking lot on Mountain Trail Street to be locked during school hours and an additional security guard to be hired, for a total of six. Campus and parking lot patrols will be increased, Baldwin said.

Additionally, a guard will be stationed at the entrance to the main parking lot to monitor anyone entering and leaving the campus.