With the robberies, vandalism and smoking on campus, the need to hire another campus aide became essential. Last year’s aides were Sarah Jackson and Fred Shepherd. At the beginning of this year, the school hired soccer coach and Assistant Athletic Director David Burgee to be the third campus aide.

“We establish presence,” Burgee said. “We want to make sure the kids get to class in time and eventually progress towards a diploma. We just want to have them do the things they need to do.”

Dean of Students Tom Jacoubowsky hired Shepherd last year, when the school was in need of a campus aide.

“He covers the grounds very thoroughly not only in the school but in the surrounding streets to make sure everything is going as it should be,” Jacoubowsky said. Last year’s problem was robbery, but this year’s problem is students cutting class.

“It’s mostly smoking and hanging around people’s houses on Georgia and Los Robles,” Shepherd said. “People don’t feel too safe with kids hanging around their driveways.” However, the area has been a lot better this year, according to Jacoubowsky, who has gotten comments from neighbors on the improvement.

“There isn’t a lot of stake-out or surveillance type of activity,” Burgee said. “We walk around campus and our job is to make sure our kids are happy, safe and successful. And if having a presence does that, then great.”