4 Brockton School Committee members call for Massachusetts National Guard to end "chaos" at high school
BROCKTON – Four school committee members asking the Massachusetts National Guard to help with security issues at Brockton High School say students are "causing chaos" and disrupting the learning environment too often.
School committee members Joyce Asack, Tony Rodrigues, Ana Oliver and Claudio Gomes held a press conference Monday to discuss their request.
"We do need to take our schools back into control and make sure our students have a safe learning environment," Rodrigues said. "Because what's going on at the high school is disheartening. Kids are losing precious learning time when kids are causing chaos."
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey issued a statement Sunday saying she is "committed to ensuring that schools are safe and supportive environments." Healey added that she has been in touch with local officials about the concerns at Brockton High School.
Last month, several teachers offered a tearful plea for assistance at a school committee meeting.
Violence has been a recurring issue at the school. Officials said last Thursday, 11 teenage students were arrested and criminally charged after a large fight broke out at the school. Teachers are concerned there isn't enough staff to stop these fights from happening.
"We're not asking them to deploy a whole army to our school. We're asking for support," Oliver said.
"He does not want to come to Brockton High. He says there's a lot of drugs, there are a lot of fights. He did say the word safe, but it does not sound like he feels safe," said Ana Reyes whose grandson is a freshman in Brockton.
Gomes said other schools in the state have been dealing with similar issues.
"I know the first thought that comes to mind when you hear National Guard is uniform and arms. That's not the case," Gomes said. "They're people like us. They're educated, they're trained. We just need their assistance right now. We need more staff to support our staff, and help the students learn, have a safe environment. That's the case for us. We need the hands. And they have it, so why not provide their assistance?"
Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan opposes the proposal.
"We need to give our administrators the tools to keep order in the school, including amending certain state rules and regulations that currently hamper these efforts," Sullivan said as part of his statement. "National Guard soldiers are not the answer. We have had school police working effectively and safely at the high school for decades."
Nearly 4,000 students attend Brockton High School. While all guardians who spoke to WBZ-TV said they believe the violence is a serious problem at the school, some said they think bringing in the National Guard would be a step too far.
"This is not a military school. This is Brockton High School," one woman said.
Some parents believe a Massachusetts law is getting in teachers' ways. It recommends "models that incorporate intermediate steps prior to the use of suspension or expulsion."
"Sometimes if you have to sit them home with a parent who has to take a day off from work so they can take care of their kids who are screwing up at school, they're going to learn," parent Julio Pomar said.