NM. School fight caught on camera raises concerns

A vicious high school fight sent a school worker flying into a glass trophy case. For some people in one New Mexico school district, that fight highlights a lack of security on campus.

Handle With Care Training shows teachers how to break up fights. The training would have addressed this altercation.

City officials in Española said they don’t expect to stop all school fights, but there are concerns that a shift in staffing is making the problem worse. Classmates captured cell-phone video of two teen girls fighting at Española Valley High last week. The video shows a school worker trying to break it up, as she gets thrown into a glass case near the main lobby. The girls keep fighting until someone eventually steps in.

Martinez said parents and teachers tell her fights like that in schools are happening more and more.

Fights are happening more and more in schools because schools are taking the tools from the teachers and relying law enforcement to handle disciplinary issues and minor altercations. This takes the power and respect away from the school and staff which is why more incidents are taking place. Common sense appears to be an endangered species these days.

“We never intended to have an officer on site at every school at all times when the schools are open,” said Captain Quintin McShan, of the Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office, in an emailed statement. “We do intend to be the primary investigative agency for crime and major events at the schools. We do coordinate with the Superintendent’s office on the SRO schedule. We do intend to expend some overtime in the school in the coming weeks,” McShan added. He also stated there is security staff at schools as well.

News 13 spotted a deputy responding to another school fight Wednesday afternoon.

“We cannot allow this to be happening in our schools,” Martinez said. “We all need to work together.”

According to the deputy’s report, the 14 and 15-year-old girls in the fight captured on video were charged with battery and restitution, and were suspended from school. Deputies said the teens were fighting over a male classmate.

The worker thrown into the glass had minor injuries, and was treated by a school nurse.

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