LRSD Parent Pushes for Stricter Security After Fight Goes Viral
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: November 5, 2012
A mother is pushing the Little Rock School District to boost security and enforce cell phone policies after her daughter was involved in a fight on campus.
Yolanda Jones says she warned school security staff and her daughter's teacher about tension between her daughter and another student at McClellan high school in October, but that still wasn't enough.
"I was actually outside of this fight," said Jones, pointing at a video of the incident.
Jones says she was substitute teaching when her daughter and another student began fighting just outside her building.
"These kids are standing around trying to video tape this, no one is trying to intervene and help," she said.
In the video, the girls fought for roughly a minute and forty seconds but for Jones, watching it, it felt like forever, waiting or security to step in.
A teacher finally tore the students apart, but just when they thought it was over, they were dealt another blow.
"This video was spread before the bell rang, at 3:45 PM everyone had it in their phone," said Jones.
Jones says she was infuriated as she watched the images circulate across social media sites, because students aren't supposed to have their phones on campus.
"It's against the policy to have cell phones," said LRSD Spokesperson Pamela Smith.
Smith says students found with phones will have them confiscated and if caught recording fights could face steeper penalties.
"Beyond that a student can be sanctioned under the voyeurism policy of the student handbook which could result in legal action," said Smith.
Still some students say, some schools are making their own rules.
"It's this rule at school that they have to put them in their lockers," said an unidentified McClellan student.
But by letting students and administrators slide, Jones fears inappropriate images will continue to make their way online and haunt students who try to move on.
"This could have been prevented, if they listened to what I was saying and taken it seriously."
.
Smith says the superintendent is continuing to investigate this case. Jones transferred her children to another school.
Yolanda Jones says she warned school security staff and her daughter's teacher about tension between her daughter and another student at McClellan high school in October, but that still wasn't enough.
"I was actually outside of this fight," said Jones, pointing at a video of the incident.
Jones says she was substitute teaching when her daughter and another student began fighting just outside her building.
"These kids are standing around trying to video tape this, no one is trying to intervene and help," she said.
In the video, the girls fought for roughly a minute and forty seconds but for Jones, watching it, it felt like forever, waiting or security to step in.
A teacher finally tore the students apart, but just when they thought it was over, they were dealt another blow.
"This video was spread before the bell rang, at 3:45 PM everyone had it in their phone," said Jones.
Jones says she was infuriated as she watched the images circulate across social media sites, because students aren't supposed to have their phones on campus.
"It's against the policy to have cell phones," said LRSD Spokesperson Pamela Smith.
Smith says students found with phones will have them confiscated and if caught recording fights could face steeper penalties.
"Beyond that a student can be sanctioned under the voyeurism policy of the student handbook which could result in legal action," said Smith.
Still some students say, some schools are making their own rules.
"It's this rule at school that they have to put them in their lockers," said an unidentified McClellan student.
But by letting students and administrators slide, Jones fears inappropriate images will continue to make their way online and haunt students who try to move on.
"This could have been prevented, if they listened to what I was saying and taken it seriously."
.
Smith says the superintendent is continuing to investigate this case. Jones transferred her children to another school.
Comments
I'm sure LRSD is better off.
silver s.
November 6, 2012 at 5:43 am
