Forum at Correia Planned for Monday, Sept. 11.
Last Thursday morning, Sept 7, a group of parents and students stood outside Correia Middle School on Valeta Street before the bell rang with some holding signs that read “See something, say something,” “Believe them,” and “Zero tolerance for guns at school.”
The small rally was organized by parents concerned about reports of a gun on campus being brandished plus allegations of sexual harassment by boys from over a dozen girl students. Also, part of parents’ grief was the milquetoast response by school officials that denigrated parents’ concerns and students’ claims.
One protesting parent, Lisa Burger, told 10News:
“I’m here because we need to believe what the children say. If there was a gun seen, we need to believe that. If there is sexual harassment going on — about 13 girls stepped up and had the courage to speak about what happened to them — we need to trust them.”
After concerns were raised last week, Correia interim principal sent an email to parents that said, in part:
“We will continue to share any updates regarding the unsubstantiated threat to our campus, and unsubstantiated reports that a student had access to a weapon.”
This is the statement that parents feel was inadequate and dismissive.
ABC 10News reached out to the San Diego Unified School District regarding the alleged incidents and were referred back to the email that was sent out to parents.
The letter also said that all parents are invited to attend a forum at the school to discuss safety protocols and student expectations, on Monday, Sept. 11.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You aren’t going to get a substantive statement or commitment out of an interim principal.
Many lustrums ago my two children attended Correria. The school is a shock for many Point Loma/OB kids who are used to attending a neighborhood elementary school. Correria is a mixed bag of kids from a variety of backgrounds entering their teen years. It can be rough for everybody. My son got jumped once, my daughter was routinely bullied out of the lunch line because she wasn’t a member of one particular cultural group.
When I brought up these issues my children were having with the administration I didn’t scream, demand, or protest in front of the school. I asked the assistant principal if I could be part of the solution, could I help him by volunteering at school? He was welcoming and when I could, I showed up and helped. Pretty soon my children’s teachers knew who I was and my children benefitted from my presence at school.
My advice is to not throw a fit, get involved. Be an insider, not an outsider. Volunteer somehow. And most of all, have the trust of your children so when something like this happens, they’ll tell you about it.
And to those who say volunteering won’t work or that they don’t have any extra time…these are your children. Figure it out or they’ll grow up to be someone that you may not like.
“Parents from Correia Middle School walked into a meeting Monday night with school and San Diego Unified officials hopeful they’d get some answers, but most said they left feeling frustrated and with no clear resolution. …”
“Parents who attended the meeting told ABC 10News that the principal gave a slide presentation, went over policy, and then conducted question-and-answer sections.”
“Just also a lot of kind of contradicting information that left me feeling frustrated and like I don’t much more than I did before I got here,” said another parent.
Last week, San Diego Unified School District officials called the weapons claim unsubstantiated.”
10News https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/correia-middle-school-parents-meet-with-officials-over-harassment-concerns