UTICA, N.Y. — NEWSChannel 2 received video of what a resident said is students fighting in a hallway recently at Utica’s Proctor High School.
The students were physically attacking one another while other students recorded it with their cellphones with school security rushing to break it up.
“I think, you know, to see students that are not able to regulate or are experiencing difficulty regulating their emotions or dealing with conflict. I think it’s heartbreaking,” Utica Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Spence said.
Spence has been on the job for just over four months.
Heartbreaking and complex, as it takes seconds for fists to fly, but much harder to figure out why.
“We’re looking at multiple data points to really assess and evaluate the phenomenon, for lack of better words, for what we’re seeing at the high school,” Spence said.
Some parents and staff say fights seem more frequent, as of late, at Proctor.
The superintendent said there were some immediate moves they made to keep students and staff safe.
“We have added three additional security officers, security monitors, at the high school, and we are working with the Utica Police Department to deploy additional officers at the high school,” the superintendent said. “We’ve also increased security measures, structurally. We won’t get into those details, of course, but we’ve increased security measures.”
Some stakeholders feel the school isn’t being diligent enough about suspending disruptive students who break the rules.
“I can say confidently that my actions are in concert with the commissioner’s regulations, education law, and in accordance with our newly-adopted student code of conduct,” Spence said. “We’re on it.”
Utica City School District Superintendent Dr. Christopher Spence has been on the job for just over four months.