Extra Security On Hand In Wake Of University Prep Brawl
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - There was extra security welcoming students Tuesday at University Prep in the Hill District.
Over two dozen students were involved in a fight at the school yesterday.
With parents concerned about the safety of their children, KDKA-TV's Heather Abraham spoke with Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Linda Lane Tuesday morning.
She met with students and staff today at University Prep and said they're working on recommendations to create a safer, positive learning environment.
Pittsburgh Police and school police stood guard outside and inside University Prep in the Hill District this morning. There will be several more days of increased security after a fight between a couple girls on Monday escalated to a brawl with 30 girls involved.
"They could hear it in the hallways and then they said that kids were coming in the classrooms. Like, the fight was spilling into the classroom," Lakeya Stockton said. "It was my daughter's first day here at the school. So, they were kind of shook up. They called like come get me.
Dr. Lane said school officials are reviewing all aspects of the fight and what happened next to contain it.
"How did it happen? Because if you don't understand that, you don't understand how to avoid it in the future," Dr. Lane said.
In the coming days and weeks, officials will offer some recommendations to the school board to help support the staff at university prep as well as students.
"Usually it's not just one thing, it's several that will need to happen to support our teachers and the many, many students here at University Prep who are here to learn. And they're here today to learn," Dr. Lane said.
While classes resumed inside the school, community leaders stood outside and called on the district administration and school board to address more than security and safety.
"I think there is always blame cast on bad homes, bad kids, bad parents, bad families; but the issue is, it's a bad system," said Rev. Victor Grigsby, of the Hill District Ministerial Alliance.
"Tinkering around the edges will not make it work, tt needs a complete restructuring," added Sala Udin, a community activist.
Dr. Lane said absences were higher than usual today and things were not quite back to normal. Some students face felonies as a result of the fight.
"To have someone at this age facing felony charges that is so life-altering, I just hope we take those kinds of decisions very seriously," Dr. Lane said.
Aside from criminal charges, Dr. Lane said that disciplinary action would come from the school and principal, but she believes some of the students involved will be punished.
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