Gang Awareness
Forum Monday in Pixley

Pixley - Mike Salcido, superintendent of the Tipton Elementary School District, is not taking a casual approach to the South County Gang Awareness Forum that will be held in Pixley Monday.

“The word's out there, but we're going a little bit further,” he said, reporting the social worker and a community aide in the migrant education program are recruiting parents. “We're taking a busload of parents over. We want to send 60 to 80 parents with a staff member.”

During his five years in Tipton, Salcido said he has seen an increase in gang activity.

“Are we doing more to combat it? Yes,” he said.

Here are a few of the things he said the school is doing:

• A police officer is on campus two days a week and is now presenting the GREAT gang-resistance education program.

• The school, working with Community Services, Employment and Training offers a Community School Violence Prevention Program.

• A social worker is now coming to Tipton School two days a week, instead of one day a month.

• The school has a parent training program that includes two seven-week sessions in the fall and spring. Parents learn how to help their children with academics, health problems and other concerns and they are introduced to a variety of resources.

“We're just so fortunate this activity [forum] is coming up now,” Salcido said, adding it can help parents and others who are trying to keep children out of gangs.

“These parents are bewildered,” he said. “They don't know what to do.”
Tulare County Supervisor Pete Vander Poel, who will facilitate the event, asked local law enforcement officials to organize the forum.

“We've got such a problem with this gang issue,” Vander Poel said. “I think it's a good idea for people to come out and see what they themselves can do about it.”
His hope is that this will be a “self-empowering” experience for all who attend, he said. “Everybody has the ability to impact their community and alleviate this problem.”

In addition to the Board of Supervisors, other agencies participating in the event include the District Attorney's Office, Probation Department, Sheriff's Department, Tulare Police Department and the Delano Police Department.
In addition, at least 17 organization ranging from afterschool programs to religious organizations, are interested in participating in the resource fair that will be held from 5 to 6 p.m., Vander Poel said.

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