More than 200 educators, students, and parents filled a room inside Washington Technology Magnet School in St. Paul Tuesday as the St. Paul School Board hosted a public listening session focused on school violence.
Many who spoke at the meeting told the board that violence had long been an issue even before 15-year-old Devin Scott was stabbed and killed last month inside Harding High School.
"Cellphones are being used as a tool to communicate among students to gather for fights, filming, and TikTok dancing instead of learning," said Joyce Jones Strait, who teaches science at Washington Technology Magnet School. "I've had students bring weapons into my classroom and use them against each other. This is sometimes sanctioned by parents and guardians who know children are feeling threatened from their doorstop, to the bus stop, to the classroom, and everywhere in-between."
In some instances, parents shared firsthand accounts from their children who reported open drug use inside school restrooms.
"It is common knowledge and tips have been submitted, nothing happens," said one parent of a ninth grade student. "My daughter sees violence happen regularly and her perspective is that these people get a slap on the hand and they're back in school again."
The parent went on to call schools, "ridiculous places of violence."
"Kids have the right to learn and to be safe. They do not feel safe. I am tired of waking up in the middle of the night wondering what is going on this high school that I'm not hearing about."
In total, more than 60 people spoke to the school board and SPPS Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard on Tuesday.
While some called for more school resource officers to help curb the ongoing violence, others weren't so keen on the idea of placing officers inside schools.
"Armed cops wouldn't make kids feel safe," one student noted.
No action was taken by the board, which plans to host more listening sessions in the coming weeks.
Educators meanwhile called on district leaders to consider increasing mental health professionals to address incidents that they say can no longer be considered as isolated.
"This year alone my school has conducted over 20 suicide risk assessment evaluations," said Beth Swanberg who teaches a Highland Park Middle School. "Drug use and vaping in our middle school has more than tripled, physical assaults are up by 20%, and the waitlist for students to see a counselor is more than three months."