MEDFORD, Mass. — On Tuesday night, Medford City Council addressed the violent incident at the high school where a student was stabbed in the boys’ bathroom on Monday.
Parents were in attendance to voice their concerns as council members also proposed solutions to help make the school safer.
“I have one, two, three, four police reports since September of our situation of bullying,” says one parent of a Medford High School student.
Because of Monday’s stabbing, council members say more than 300 students did not show up to school on Tuesday including some of their own children and grandchildren because they say they didn’t feel safe.
Councilor George Scarpelli said he will propose for the mayor to put together a team to implement a safety plan with teachers and police. He also proposed for the mayor to train what he calls “true” security guards. He says there needs to be more of a crackdown on loitering in the halls and hanging out in the bathrooms.
The school superintendent was also in attendance on Tuesday night and Councilor Adam Knight had a direct question for her.
“What’s the plan? How going forward when these kids go back to school how are they going to be safer tomorrow than they were yesterday?” says Councilor Knight.
“We have additional social, emotional support, outside support, additional police presence and we re-deployed administrators who were also present at the high school today,” says superintendent, Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent.
Some council members also want to see a police presence at the school indefinitely and not just for the rest of the week.
Medford Council wants to see their safety proposals implemented by January 3rd when students return to school from the holiday break.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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