Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for September 14, 2007 MT. VERNON HIGH JINKS

Scroll down for an update to this story posted on September 20th...concerning the distribution of "pro-white" literature at the Mt. Vernon campus by four adults.

Students Charged In Mt. Vernon Campus Fight

Melissa Crabtree, NewsChannel 6

More fallout following problems at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, High School and the arrest of two students accused of assaulting a police officer and a teacher.

The two sophomores were in court today and they had plenty of supporters. It all started Tuesday afternoon when three separate fights broke out between students.

Wednesday there was another fight with ten to fifteen students fighting in the middle of campus. The school was locked down and students sent home early.

Thursday several police officers were stationed around the school as a precautionary measure and no problems were reported.

At least two students involved in the melee are facing assault charges. They've already spent one night in jail. The teachers are shaken up by the whole incident. Worried the campus is out of control. The Mt. Vernon teachers who testified say the violence they witnessed on campus was like watching a herd of animals.

Students agree.

“There was like 20 kids like hitting teachers and cops and stuff it wasn't just those two boys," said Amber Hicks.

Amber Hicks watched as her little brother Mathew and his cousin Cody Ellis faced criminal charges for the school brawl.

"They've got these 16 year old kids in hand cuffs and shackles in a police department surrounded by police I don't even know why they're in shackles and handcuffs," said Mike Ellis.

More than two hundred students were caught in the 30 minute altercation. Both Hicks and Ellis' family say they're afraid the two boys are being used as an example and will be unfairly punished.

"He's cried 2 or 3 times in there and asked if he could get rid of his lawyer," said Tricia Hicks.

A group says the student unrest on campus is far from over. More than a dozen students openly skipped classes to protest the two boy’s arrest. They waited outside the courtroom as their teachers testified. "I'd say there are a lot of fights but there weren’t just two people. Two people should not be in jail for it, there should be more," said Jessica Hicks.

Rebecca Hicks says there's a bigger issue that school administrators need to deal with at the school. “These students just didn't flip out for no reason something happened," said Rebecca Hicks.

“The kids are just gonna get madder and madder cause we have all our teachers up here pretty much saying we're all bad kids and they can't handle us just making things worse," said Amber Hicks.

During today's testimony teachers say as the fights erupted in the quad area, an unidentified student was yelling "Shoot-em-up!" as he ran through the crowd.

Teachers were previously told to show more of a presence on campus along with law enforcement because of recent problems. The school is trying to get things back to normal.

The freshman, JV, and varsity volleyball games scheduled with Marion are still on tonight, but parents have been told there will be extra security and law enforcement.

Mount Vernon school reports 'zero' incidents

By Tara Fasol, For The Southern

MOUNT VERNON - One day following a police investigation into school violence, Mount Vernon Township High School Superintendent Terry Milt said Thursday ended with "absolutely zero" incidents of campus fighting or escalated tensions between students.

"We shut down two streets in the middle of the campus during lunch hour," Milt explained. "We will keep security in place as long as we need it. Our kids will be safe."

On Wednesday afternoon, students were dismissed from the high school about one hour early because of a lunchtime incident. Milt had described Wednesday's incident as "student unrest." He also explained that one juvenile male "excited" other students which subsequently led to several small altercations including the physical assault of two teachers and the verbal assault of a third teacher.

Two juvenile males and one 17-year-old female were taken into custody Wednesday and charged by Mount Vernon Police Department.

The superintendent said he did not believe fights on Tuesday or Wednesday were racially motivated. Milt added he was "more convinced than ever" that race was not a factor because of the lack of violence or incident between students Thursday.

"If it were racially motivated that would have continued today and that didn't happen," he said. "We have some wannabe gangs. I'm not going to sit here and say that we don't."

Milt said the high school does not have a "major problem" with student gang involvement and ranked closely with other schools of similar racial intermingling and student enrollment size.

The superintendent said he spoke with four parents after Wednesday's incidents but made time to speak with a number of students before school began Thursday morning.

Milt said some of those students had "reservations" about attending class because of rumors about weapons and violence. He noted that escorts were made available to students who needed to leave class during school hours and counselors were also on hand during the school day.

"The counselors did not see anybody," Milt said. "I talked with them (students) again at lunch."

With the presence of law enforcement officers at each corner of campus Milt said he believed the fears of students and parents were eased.

The superintendent did not confirm how much security would remain in place for Friday but noted all possible "precautions" would be taken until school administrators felt it was no longer necessary.

Administrators: 'Racial group' approached Mount Vernon students

BY TARA FASOL, The Southern

MOUNT VERNON - Administrators at Mount Vernon Township High School said Wednesday police were called to the school earlier in the week in response to the distribution of suspected race-related literature and music.

Ron Daniels, high school principal, said four adult males were on the campus Monday distributing music discs along with literature referring to Web sites containing information about "pro-white" racial groups.

"They were on the sidewalks by our parking lots," Daniels said. "A student came back to a teacher that was in the area, to tell them they were there, and they were addressed by administration and staff to please move back past our parking area."

Daniels said some students received the literature and discs without knowing of the content. The principal said parents also contacted the school in regard to the racial nature of the information received by students.

"The word was that they (the four men) had heard about things through the media and came here in response to that," he said, referring to a disturbance last week that resulted in arrests and the early dismissal of school. Some students said the disturbance was linked to racial friction.

Daniels said he talked with students about Monday's incident.

"I know of several students that I talked with that said they just avoided them and walked on to their vehicles and other students that were kind of upset and gave them back when they found out what they were. Many of the students were taking it at first and not realizing what it was," he said.

Daniels said "most" of the discs distributed contained only music; the literature offered Web sites with information about "pro-white" racial groups.

"Once officers were on scene they moved back," Daniels said about the group's initial resistance to leave school property.

Security procedures already were in place on campus after several days of troubles the previous school week.

Terry Milt, Mount Vernon Township High School superintendent, said "student unrest" was to blame for a number of small fights occurring between students on Sept. 11 and 12.

Milt said one juvenile male "excited" other students, which subsequently led to several small altercations including the physical assault of two teachers and the verbal assault of a third teacher. Two juvenile males and one 17-year-old female were taken into custody by the Mount Vernon Police Department following the Sept. 12 disturbance.

Law enforcement officials and school administrators have denied any racial connection to the incidents and called rumors of weapons and racial tension between students unfounded.

School was let out early on Sept. 12, the Wednesday in which the campus violence occurred. Some students were heard talking about racially motivated attacks and that widespread attacks were expected after the dismissal of school.

Daniels said surveillance and precautionary increased security have continued through the week and will continue at the school until administrators are certain there is no risk to faculty or students.