Parents of students at Correia Middle School threatened a “sit-out” for Thursday morning after they were dissatisfied with the response by school officials over an alleged gun threat and allegations of sexual harassment of girl students by a group of boys, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
A call by the OB Rag to Correia this morning resulted in a message left for the school’s secretary.
The U-T reported that “Dozens of Point Loma parents kept kids home from Correia Middle School this week after they felt school officials had not taken sufficient action to protect students from an alleged gun threat reported last week.”
U-T reporter Emily Alvarenga also stated:
Parents were also planning a demonstration at the school Thursday morning to stand against threats of violence and harassment and to call on the district to maintain a safe learning environment for students, according to Stacey McLarry, the parent of a seventh-grader at Correia.
The incident began on Aug. 29 when a seventh-grade boy allegedly brought a gun to school.
McLarry said the boy told her daughter about the gun in class that day. Then after school, McLarry said her daughter and another girl said the boy and another male student brandished a silver handgun to them near campus. McLarry said she arrived shortly after, and “the girls were visibly terrified, crying.”
Her daughter didn’t report the incident immediately to staff out of fear, McLarry said, “but that she immediately returned to campus to report the incident upon hearing what had happened.” Alvarenga also reported that McLarry had heard claims that “the boys had also been reportedly sexually harassing girls on campus. She said more than a dozen girls have come forward to report similar incidents.”
McLarry and other parents reportedly were to organize the sit-out for Thursday morning “when they learned that the boys were set to return to campus this week. Many decided their children would not return to school this week until there is a permanent resolution in place …”
Parents will be able to join school officials in discussing safety protocols and student expectations at a school forum scheduled Monday at 5:30 p.m. in person at the Correia auditorium or through Zoom.
In voicemails and emails sent to parents over the holiday weekend, interim-Principal Kyle Kupper confirmed the school had received reports of a gun incident last week. The threat was deemed to be unsubstantiated, and no weapon was found.
Kupper also confirmed students had received an anonymous text over the weekend about a possible school threat Tuesday. This threat was also found to be unsubstantiated.
San Diego Unified School District officials said they did not have an official number of students who were absent. They confirmed that the school saw a dramatic dip in attendance Tuesday but would not give an estimate. A majority of students were back in class Wednesday, officials said.
Kupper told parents all absences Tuesday would be marked excused and that the morning would be “dedicated to activities for students to voice their thoughts about school safety and what that means and looks like to them.”
Parents were also planning a demonstration at the school Thursday morning to stand against threats of violence and harassment and to call on the district to maintain a safe learning environment for students, according to Stacey McLarry, the parent of a seventh-grader at Correia.
The incident began on Aug. 29 when a seventh-grade boy allegedly brought a gun to school.
McLarry said the boy told her daughter about the gun in class that day. Then after school, McLarry said her daughter and another girl said the boy and another male student brandished a silver handgun to them near campus. McLarry said she arrived shortly after, and “the girls were visibly terrified, crying.”
McLarry said her daughter had not reported the incident to staff out of fear, but that she immediately returned to campus to report the incident upon hearing what had happened.
McLarry said it also came to light that the boys had also been reportedly sexually harassing girls on campus. She said more than a dozen girls have come forward to report similar incidents.
McLarry said the boys were suspended. District officials did not confirm the suspension or the reported incidents, as they could not comment on students’ disciplinary records.
Although Kupper said the threats were unsubstantiated, he said there would be an increased law enforcement presence on campus this week to ensure students’ safety.
In an email sent to parents Wednesday, Kupper said school police continue to collaborate with San Diego police in its investigation. Law enforcement made visits to the homes of some of the students involved and determined there is no threat to the school campus as a result of the allegations.
McLarry said that she and other parents began to organize the sit-out when they learned that the boys were set to return to campus this week. Many decided their children would not return to school this week until there is a permanent resolution in place, she added.
Parents will be able to join school officials in discussing safety protocols and student expectations at a school forum scheduled Monday at 5:30 p.m. in person at the Correia auditorium or through Zoom.
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