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BROCKTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Dozens of parents and community members rallied outside Brockton High School before the start of classes Monday.
People held signs saying "We believe in BHS" and "Your community is with you" as they showed support for students, teachers, and staff.
The high school has been a recent hot button topic because of staffing shortages, drug use, and a surge in violence between students.
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Last week, four members of the Brockton School Committee requested the National Guard be brought into the school to help quell safety concerns. Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan opposed the idea.
Parents like Mary, whose son is a high school junior, is in favor of National Guard members coming in.
"There’s not enough bodies in the schools, effective bodies, someone the kids can look at with respect," Mary told WBZ NewsRadio. "There’s a lot of issues with the doors being untended, letting people in and out."
"Really the issue is to get bodies, to get people, adult[s], in the building," agreed Jed Hresko. "They don’t need to be armed, I’d be against them being armed. I don’t even know if they need to be in uniform."
But others believe the National Guard is not the answer.
"We don’t need to turn it into a military occupied zone or a police state," said Rahsaan Hall, Brockton resident and president of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. "When the community shows up for our kids, when we get the community and the parents involved, we get better outcomes."
"We all need to get together," said Cynthia Hodges. "We got a principal, he’s a new principal here, give him a chance to learn the students, learn what we need here, and I think we can make Brockton that 'City of Champions' again."
WBZ NewsRadio's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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