Two high school students are facing criminal charges of assault and battery after several fights that occurred on Wednesday at Alexandria City High School, the Alexandria Police Department announced.
Two APD school resource officers arrived on the campus of ACHS on December 18 around 12 p.m. after reports of students fighting in the hallways and cafeteria.
APD said it is aware of one injured student who went to a clinic with her parents. A video on social media also showed one adult woman lying on the ground. That woman remained conscious, refused medical attention at the scene, and did not file a police report.
Police also say that investigators are looking into media reports that said a student had been stabbed, though “nothing at this point in the investigation substantiates that claim,” APD said. No injuried parties were transported for medical attention.
“Schools should be safe learning environments for our kids, inciting violence and disorder within a school is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire. “As a community, we must support our kids by equipping them with the tools and constructive coping mechanisms to process emotions and our school resource officers are key in doing so. I want to thank the school staff and our school resource officers for the work they continue to do to de-escalate situations preemptively.”
There is a police presence in and around perimeter neighborhoods of ACHS and in retail spaces nearby.
Remote Instruction
ACHS canceled in-person instruction for Thursday and Friday of this week in response to the fights, the school announced Wednesday in a statement from Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt.
On Wednesday, the fights led the school to enter “hold status” for the remainder of the afternoon. This was done to “ensure the safety of everyone in the building.” Kay-Watt described the incidents as “disheartening and concerning.”
“Although these incidents involved a small number of students, such events are extremely disruptive to the educational environment and interrupt the focus on learning that our students deserve,” Kay-Wyatt said.
The school system’s investigation found that there was the possibility of additional conflicts in school on December 19 and 20. As such, the school canceled in-person instruction for those two days at all ACHS campuses, “out of an abundance of caution.”
Instead, students will take part in asynchronous instruction, meaning they will receive all assignments and instructional materials online through Canvas. This decision aims to “maintain continuity of education while prioritizing the well-being of students and staff.”
Kay-Wyatt said she will be planning with administration to “devise a plan for additional measures” for when students return from winter break on January 6. “The plan will include severe consequences for any disruptive behavior,” Kay-Wyatt said.
The school will address students involved in fights in accordance with the student code of conduct, the statement said.
“Our school community deserves better and counts on us to provide a safe place for teaching and learning,” Kay-Wyatt said.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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