Violent outbursts aren't uncommon in some schools, but when it's happening in K through 3 classes it's disturbing.
Parents of students at East Pike Elementary in Indiana County say desks, water bottles and scissors are being thrown at students and their children are afraid to go to school expressed.
Over 100 incidents have been reported in one class room at East Pike, part of the Indiana Area School District.
The incidents reportedly go back at least a month, with some saying they go back to last year.
During a school board meeting Monday night, Indiana Area Superintendent Robert Heinrich spoke ahead of public comments, saying the district is taking steps to “make sure that those behaviors are taken care of and we establish a safe environment for all the kids.”
“Since I was alerted to seriousness of these concerns, our team has made the situation a priority,” said Heinrich.
Some of the changes being made or adjusted include realigning emotional support services while continuing to provide support for all students in the district.
Heinrich says they have also “increased support for staff in responding to behavioral incidents.”
He is also asking for additional resources to be approved by the board to help deal with the situation.
Some parents expressed their concerns at the school board meeting, including Katie Haberl-Thomaswho told KDKA Radio the way the parents were treated was shocking.
“The fact that the superintendent suggested that there are parents pushing a false narrative is offensive,” said Haberl-Thomas. “The fact that only two of the nine board members even addressed us and our concerns is incredibly disheartening.”
Haberl-Thomas says that it isn’t surprising that reaction has been slow.
“It comes as no shock that there are not ample resources being filtered into East Pike to handle these situations because the people that have the access to put those resources in place have been incredibly non-responsive as you would’ve seen or heard at the board meeting.”
Parents attending the school board meeting said on Monday night that the problems in the classroom have gone on longer than reported and that the district hasn’t responded quick enough.
The superintendent said several steps are being taken to address the violent outbursts.
Over 100 incidents have been reported at East Pike Elementary
Over 100 incidents have been reported at East Pike Elementary
