Students Confront School District Over Rising Violence, Lack of Safety Protocols

Students at Rush-Henrietta Senior High School in upstate New York directly confronted the Board of Education on Tuesday, voicing their deep concerns over escalating violence and insufficient safety protocols. The meeting followed a series of at least four fights that have occurred since the beginning of September, leaving students and parents feeling unsafe.

During the meeting, students described a school environment where fights, substance use, and physical threats have become normalized. Some student speakers became emotional, sharing their fear and frustration. Senior Mia Artesa stated that she plans escape routes each school year due to safety concerns.

A recent incident last Thursday involved a suspended student who allegedly entered the school unnoticed, entered a classroom, and assaulted another student to the point of seizure. A witness described the harrowing experience of watching the victim fall, eyes blank, and remain on the ground for approximately 20 minutes before help arrived. This incident led to the victim being hospitalized and the school initiating a hold-in-place order, which was escalated to a lockdown due to unconfirmed reports of weapons.

Students reported confusion and fear during the lockdown, with some receiving text messages suggesting they prepare for the worst. The subsequent announcement indicating the lockdown was over and students had three minutes to get to their next class, as usual, further exacerbated anxiety, as the cause of the lockdown—the fight—was not immediately communicated. Students felt misled when they were later told police were present as a precaution, rather than to address a violent assault.

Student council members also raised issues regarding drug use and distribution within the school, suggesting a correlation between these problems and the increase in fights. They criticized the district's perceived inaction on these matters.

Several students criticized the district's communication regarding security, pointing to what they viewed as misplaced priorities, such as new cafeteria televisions over enhanced safety measures.

In response to the student testimonies, one board member, Suzanne Bennett, referenced movie scenes and a quote from Mr. Rogers, suggesting that teenage fighting is a part of human nature and that the district's role is not to change it. This statement was met with boos from the students present.

The meeting concluded with a statement from teacher Emily Lamica, whose classroom has been the site of several recent fights. Lamica, who was seeking medical attention for injuries from a previous fight, urged the board to listen to the students and take concrete action. As she spoke, numerous students rose and stood behind her in solidarity, demonstrating their united demand for change.