GRESHAM, Ore. — Some students at Gresham High School are calling for Gresham-Barlow School District leadership to keep everyone safe amid reports of increasing threats, violence and bad behavior. The students spoke out at a school board meeting on Wednesday.
Their testimony came a month after educators brought the issues to the school district's attention. Some staff reported that over the past two years, there's been a big increase in violence and that administration isn't doing enough to fix the problems.
Despite the school system's assurance at the time that safety was a top priority, some students feel as though little has changed.
"The amount of school fights, and the amount of gun threats and the amount of knife threats, the threats in general was really scary to see," said one high school freshman.
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"I feel like our school has such a bad reputation, and currently it just feels deserved," said another Gresham High student.
Elizabeth Westbrook co-founded the Gresham Student Union as a way to advocate for student voices.
"It feels like we are really just brushing over the top of the real issues and being told that we're going to be safer if we're in class on time and not in the hallways," she said. "We have seen administration out and about around the hallways, but I noticed that that was only for about a week and then it kind of fizzled out."
Westbrook said the Gresham Student Union polled more than 100 students anonymously, and the survey showed many still felt uneasy about weapons and drugs in the school building. Alongside several others, she took her concerns and demands to the school board on Wednesday.
"We demand that leadership inform parents more on safety issues happening at Gresham High School," Westbrook said during the meeting. "We demand leadership address the allegations of knife fights and guns being brought into the building and how we will handle future situations like this in a schoolwide message. We demand clear rules and consequences that will follow through for everyone."
In response to the testimony, the school district shared a statement.
"Our school campuses should be learning environments where students feel safe, welcomed, and cared for. The students who attended tonight's board meeting bravely shared their perspectives," the school district said. "We encourage students, staff, and families at Gresham High School to continue to share their experiences as we collectively work together to address safety concerns."