Principal, counselor & police chief share insight

On Tuesday afternoon, the halls at Myra Green Middle School (MGMS) seemed tranquil, and there were no student fights erupting between class sessions. A parent had recently reported that there was increased student violence at the school, that is located in a quiet residential neighborhood in southern Raymondville.

RISD school police have logged 124 incidents at all campuses since January. This includes 24 student altercations or fights, of which 15 occurred at MGMS, according to Police Chief Oscar Gutierrez.

"We've had a 50 percent drop in overall incidents in the district," Gutierrez said. "There has been an average of five altercations (fights) a month at the middle school, which is comparable to other Texas schools."

School counselor Leticia Rodriguez says that "fights" are really disagreements or misunderstandings, and are not usually combative.

"Many are boyfriend/girlfriend things, or 'she-said-hesaid' things, or sibling rivalry," Rodriguez said. "When the altercations happen we try to diffuse the situation."

"Kid's hormonal (development) drives a lot of the disputes," explained Rodriguez, when asked about 15 fights that occurred at MGMS. "We just have normal teenage kids here."

Chief Gutierrez added that most of the disagreements start off campus, and then end up back on campus.

"When we had the (recent) carnival, or when there is a quinceanera, an altercation will start there," Gutierrez explained. "When the kids see each other on campus, then whatever happened off campus continues."

"Hostilities also start within the (extended) families between brothers, sisters, and cousins," he added. "Ethics, honesty, and loyalty all start at the home."

Gutierrez, whose office is located at MGMS, said the environment has become more pleasant on campus, since he started there in 2005.

"No students in any of the altercations have been injured, Gutierrez said. "The most we've seen is a red and swollen cheek."

MGMS Principal Judith Solis said the recent reported incident involved two female students, where one hit the other.

"My assistant principal handled the referral of the altercation," Solis said. "The (offending) student was disciplined - There were no gangs involved."

The names of the students involved in the altercation and their parents are not being reported, in order to protect the students.

The largest number of incidents in the district were 45 truancy cases, followed by the 24 fighting cases, 23 cases of disorderly conduct, six welfare intervention cases, four criminal mischief, and three marijuana/drug possession cases.

Solis said that kids at MGMS come first, and that school safety is of utmost importance.

"Discipline will go down when academics becomes a greater priority with students and with their families," she added. "Kids feel really good when we celebrate their achievements.

March and April are months where the Texas school assessment tests are being taken by students, according to Solis.

"I've given my students a 'Principals Challenge' if they do better in this years state testing," Solis said.

For example, if MGMS students achieve 70 percent or better score in math, then Solis will dye her hair blue and gold;

If eighth-graders achieve exemplary status, then Solis will start a formal prom at MGMS;

If there is a 10 percent increase in math, reading, science, and social studies, then Solis will have a campus field day, and let students try to dunk her in a water tank.

Online subscribers can view a video of two MGMS students fighting in a hallway, that was taken by another student earlier this year. The student hitting her classmate was disciplined by school officials. The injured student suffered a mild concussion to her head, according to her father; who claims that school officials are not doing enough to protect students from violence. The names of the students are not being published since they are minors.