School safety, and a proper learning environment were at the top of a list of concerns for a group of Vicksburg parents when they met with school board members Thursday night looking for answers.
There have been three fights at the school recently. Superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Swinford says a youth court investigation has determined the fights were not riots or gang related. She says the students involved were suspended, some were incarcerated and still face a discipline review committee.
The first involved seven students, nine students were involved in a second fight. Parents say their children are frightened, the situation has become dangerous and they fear for the safety of students.
Dr. Swinford says she has met with city and county leaders and is now urging parents to become more involved.
"A school with over 1,000 kids, I wish I would have 500 parents," said Dr. Swinford.
"The fights that have been happening at the school for the past year seem to be getting worse," Tina Abney, a concerned parent said.
"It certainly does not help matters when our school is portrayed as being so unsafe that the use of body bags is imminent. What does this say to our children," asked, PTO President, Cheryl Kariuki.
Dr. Swinford says they are looking into the parents concerns, but maintains it is difficult to police issues that happen in the community and are then brought into schools.
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