More crimes were reported to the Cherokee County School District Police Department last school year.

During the 2009-10 school year, 498 incidents were reported to the department, as compared to 449 during the previous school year. The number of students arrested also climbed from 184 to 220.

The district saw the biggest increases in nonviolent crimes, with criminal trespassing jumping from 32 to 49, simple battery (intentional physical harm or contact of an insulting or provoking nature) increasing from 38 to 55 and disorderly conduct rising from 21 to 37.

Weapons on school property jumped from 13 to 27, but the number of fights held steady at 22 and thefts by taking incidents hovered at 89.

The number of drug possession incidents fell from 35 to 30, and terroristic threats dropped from 11 to nine.

School Police Chief Mark Kissel said the increases can be attributed to the continued growth the district sees each year.

"Where you have an increase in students and staff ... you provide more opportunity" for crime, he said, adding the district usually sees between 400 and 500 incidents each year. "We aren't driving large numbers here."

The district has about 38,650 students enrolled, up from 38,225 last school year.

Kissel said the increases also could be linked to more students and staff taking notice of their surroundings.

The increases in weapons on school property, he noted, mainly were cases in which students brought pocket knives on campus.

The district's Parental Awareness for School Safety Program and drug K-9 Dale have been successful in making students aware of the consequences of committing crimes, he said.

The PASS Program, established in the district during the 2004-05 school year, is used by school PTAs to inform parents about issues related to providing a safe environment.

To participate in the program, at least 2 percent of a school's PTA membership must attend a minimum of four programs during the school year. Program topics include child abuse, drugs, gangs, Internet safety and school-related laws.

All schools within the Etowah High School innovation zone - Etowah High, E.T. Booth Middle, Chapman Intermediate and Bascomb, Boston and Oak Grove Elementary schools - are PASS communities as is Ball Ground Elementary School.

Schools in the Woodstock High zone - Woodstock High, Freedom and Woodstock Middle and Carmel, Sixes and Woodstock Elementary schools - last year obtained PASS Community status along with CrossRoads Middle School/High School.

Sgt. James Morris, coordinator of the PASS program, said schools in the Sequoyah High zone - Sequoyah High, Dean Rusk Middle and Hickory Flat, Holly Springs and Mountain Road Elementary Schools - are working toward PASS certification.

The addition of CrossRoads as a PASS Community was "huge," according to Kissel.

CrossRoads Principal Richard Landolt said he thought the program would "raise a level of conscience" among its students and parents.

To become certified, the school held six meetings last year on Internet crimes, drug and gang awareness, teen driving laws and state laws with regards to teenagers who commit crimes.

Landolt said he was amazed at the turnout at each meeting, noting about 40 percent of students and parents attended.

The program works, he said, because not only does it involve the whole school in creating a safe environment, but it also raises students' awareness of their surroundings.

"I appreciate the chief for bringing it here," he added.