A Massachusetts high school sent a request to the state’s Governor Maura Healey to deploy the National Guard to campus to reduce students’ drug use and violent fighting.
The Brockton Mayor and chair of the Brockton school committee, Robert Sullivan, said that he sent his fellow committee members’ request directly to the governor Friday, despite sharing his personal opinion that “National Guard soldiers are not the answer.”
“Our administration is committed to ensuring that schools are safe and supportive environments for students, educators, and staff,” Healey’s office said in response to concerns raised about the disorderly school. School staff reported rampant drug use and fighting on campus, and pleaded with the state to restore order in a press conference on Monday.
According to the Associated Press, four out of seven Brockton School Committee members supported the request to deploy the state’s National Guard, citing teacher and budget deficits.
Tony Rodrigues, a Brockton committee member, said at the conference, “If you support safety in our schools, you will support the National Guard to come in here and keep our schools safe.”
“We’re not asking them to deploy a whole army to our school. We’re asking for support,” Ana Oliver, another committee member told the public.
In a letter petitioning the state to send National Guard members to the campus, committee members Claudio Gomes, Ana Oliver, Tony Rodrigues, and Joyce Asack said that the staff members have seen “a disturbing increase in incidents related to violence, security concerns, and substance abuse.”
The committee members wrote that the situation “reached a critical point,” when “an alarming 35 teachers [were] absent, underscoring the severity of the challenges we are facing.” Adding, “Instances of students wandering the halls, engaging in altercations, and causing disruption in classrooms have become alarmingly frequent.” The committee members also cite an inability to adequately monitor school entrances and exits, resulting in many students leaving the premises without proper authorization.
“There are many instances where trespassers are found on school grounds, raising serious questions about the security and safety measures in place,” the members wrote.
Students are reportedly not attending class this week, however, the chief of police is expected to update the public on the unfolding situation after the break concludes.
