School principals support supt.; decry false information over High School fracas

Community meeting planned for Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at RHS in Learning Commons

By Barbara Taormina

The School Committee began their meeting this week with school principals using the public speaking segment to express their support for the administration, and their frustration with how Revere High School has been portrayed in the media as a result of the fights that took place over the last two weeks.

Nancy Martell, principal at the James J. Hill Elementary School, said her son, a junior at Revere High, feels safe in all parts of the school. Martell said the recent fights involved a small number of students in need of additional services and have nothing to do with the majority of the high school community. She criticized those who have been giving inaccurate information to the media and stressed that the recent fights at the high school do not define Revere as a community.

Joanne Willett, principal of the Susan B. Anthony Middle School, said she came to the meeting to express her unwavering support for Schools Supt. Dianne Kelly, who she said has brought visionary leadership to the district. Willett praised Kelly for her focus on equity, academic rigor and student well-being. She described media accounts of the recent incidents as very untrue and very unfortunate.

Revere High Principal Christopher Bowen said he was sickened by accounts that described Revere students, particularly students of color and immigrant students, as criminals and animals two weeks after the large fight at the high school. He also said he was troubled by accounts that educators do not receive the needed support from school and city leaders. Bowen said he has received everything he’s asked the administration to provide to bolster social and emotional support services for struggling students.

School Committee Vice Chair Jacqueline Monterroso echoed Bowen’s comments and said false headlines and misinformation have hurt the student body. Monterroso said adults should be aware of how their words and actions are affecting students. Negative characterizations and racial slurs are causing kids to lose trust in teachers and other adults with whom they interact.

“Words have consequences,” she said. “Students deserve better from the greater community.”

Kelly thanked the principals for their support and went on to update the committee on the follow-up measures taking place at Revere High. “We are excited to have a new female Latina school resource officer,” said Kelly. “And the police department’s behavioral health unit will be housed at the high school for the foreseeable future.”

The district is also partnering with Roca, a Chelsea-based intervention program for high-risk youth. A weekly newsletter and monthly meetings are also planned to increase parent involvement at the high school. A community meeting is planned for September 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons.

Meanwhile, the School Committee’s Safety & Security Subcommittee is continuing to explore the possibility and the need of bringing in an outside security company to support the school resource officers. Anthony Caggiano, Chair of the subcommittee, proposed having at least a detail police officer at the school during dismissal, or possibly retired officers who are still interested in working. “Having an extra body up here every day will be helpful,” he said. “I don’t want to see another staff member get hurt.”

Caggiano said he feels that the school district’s move to exclude 18 individuals involved in the fight in school and the subsequent fight on Beach Street may quell the problem.

Police Chief David Callahan said the police are still combing through videos of the fights to identify participants. “Numerous people will be taken to court on various charges,” Callahan said. “We have zero tolerance for this. A small percentage of the students have disrupted the school and community.”

Callahan also said police are trying to “dig down and get to the source of the issue.” The hope is they can prevent any future incidents by solving whatever conflict caused the first fight.