Students, Community Members Voice Concerns Over School Safety

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Whitney Young Auditorium at New Rochelle High School was filled with more than 1,000 students, teachers, parents and community members Tuesday, Jan. 23 to listen to school officials and talk about what needs to be done to make sure students are safe. Superintendent Brian Osborne said the recent violent incidents, including a fatal stabbing, were a wake-up call for the district.

Board President Rachel Relkin and Osborne gave the initial details that would include a complete review of security measures, an independent audit and the creation of a task force, lohud.com said.

Among the concerns voiced by the public were stepping up communications about incidents and making sure there was accountability.

A petition has been started by Iona College student Brendan Eckstein on change.org calling for the superintendent, board members and the New Rochelle High School principal to resign “effective immediately due to their blatant, reckless and careless approach to the increase in violent crime in the school that they are entrusted with.”

As of midday Wednesday, Jan. 24 there are 470 signatures.

On Jan. 10, high school junior Valaree Schwab, 16, was fatally stabbed twice allegedly by fellow student Z’inah Brown, 16. Brown was arrested the following day and charged with second-degree murder.

On Jan. 17, a 15-year-old student was stabbed on his hand at a nearby pizzeria and allegedly went to the high school this next morning and stabbed another student.

Read the lohud.com article.

Photo credit: NRED.org.