Is Student Safety a Major Concern in Worcester Schools?

Monday, April 20, 2015

Patrick Sargent, GoLocal Worcester Contributor

Following Friday’s discovery of a gun and ammunition in a locker at Burncoat High School in Worcester, Wednesday’s executive School Committee session regarding cameras in Worcester high schools, and the well-documented issues at North High this school year, the clear concern in the city is whether or not Worcester school children are safe.

Worcester School Committee member John Monfredo considers Worcester to be one of the safest urban districts in Massachusetts. He believes that student safety isn’t a major concern, but rather a priority in Worcester Public Schools.

“That's why I was in favor on the activation grant proposed by the Police Department for it's a safety net for the school system and the school controls the situation not the police,” said Monfredo. “It's a partnership with the police department where the school controls the critical link that connects the staff with responding emergency personnel during a crisis. There is no cost for one year, training will be given to the two schools and we can opt out if we so desire.”

Monfredo was one of four school committee members to vote in favor of applying for a grant that would link select schools to the Worcester Police Department and other emergency responders. The deadline to apply for the grant was April 17, and Mayor Joe Petty, City Manager Ed Augustus and Police Chief Gary Gemme wanted to get the grant in on time.

Committee members Hilda Ramirez and Tracy Novick were the two votes against it. Ramirez told GoLocal, “We are not being consistent in how we deal with safety concerns in our schools. For example, why should a student at North get arrested for fighting while the same infraction is treated differently at our other schools? More importantly we are not involving the public in major policy decisions that drastically change the culture of schools. I argued for hours on Wednesday to make sure we hold a public hearing. To me, its important that we hear concerns prior to voting on items not after.”

Fall Out From Friday

"A gun in a school is a major safety issue and warrants all the attention it needs to ensure that everyone is safe. The previous incidents did not involve weapons yet students were arrested," added Ramirez.

According to sources, beyond the arrest and charges, the student in question will miss an entire year of school following Friday's incident at Burncoat. The Worcester Public Schools' police on possession or use of weapons states that if a student is found in possession of a weapon, it is the principal's discretion as to whether or not the student is expelled or put on long-term suspension.

In a released statement on Friday, City Councilor Michael Gaffney, who announced his run for Mayor this winter, described the student's possession of a gun as "intent to murder a police officer," and blamed the incident on "anti-police rhetoric."

However, according to sources, the teacher that alarmed the administration of the threat, overheard other students say the student arrested said he "wasn't afraid to shoot a cop."

Worcester Public Schools released a statement on Friday afternoon that read: "At approximately 11:30 am a teacher overheard a student talking about using a gun in the community. The teacher alerted school administration and a search was conducted. The administration found a handgun inside a container in the student locker. The Worcester Public Schools’ Safety Liaison and the Worcester Police Department were called and responded immediately. The student was arrested. At no point in time were any students, faculty or staff members under threat. There was no disruption to the school day."

“We do have a safe school system, but we must always remain vigilant and look for ways of improving the safety aspect of our schools,” said Monfredo. “We can never take anything for granted for we live in very different times now."