Recently at Park, two fights broke out. Not only did the city of St. Louis Park know about it, but the whole world did. Due to this, Park needed to rethink and remake their policies in the high school. This changed what a normal school day would look like, and affected students and staff in various different ways.
According to senior Simar Singh, the presence of police in school makes him feel safe during his day-to-day activities at school.
“I feel like it is good; the security,” said Singh. “Especially with active shootings and stuff like that. It’s good to have a sense of security.”
Some of the protocols included escorts in the hallway during class periods, more police, no passes during the day and block scheduling. Senior Pawell Habia said all of these protocols felt like a little too much, especially since he was not directly involved in the fight.
“For someone like me, who wasn’t in the fight, it was doing too much,” said Habia. “But, I guess I see why they did it.”
According to history teacher Scott Miller, before the fights he’s never felt insecure at Park, but does not mind the presence of police, as it’s a good thing to lean on if anything else were to happen.
“I generally feel I don’t feel unsafe on a daily basis at Park at all,” said Miller. “I guess if I had to pick one side or the other, I feel comfortable with the police here, with a presence on campus.”
According to Singh, he feels as if other schools are struggling with problems that are even worse, and the rules they implement might work at Park.
“I feel like there are other schools where the problem is worse,” said Singh. “I feel like they have other rules that they’ve implemented that kind of gave a sense of protection and gave students the opportunity to get their full education.”
For Park Principal LaNisha Paddock this reset is for the well being of Park students, even though it might seem harsh it’s all for positive change at Park.
“The heightened safety precautions such as extra police presence, block schedule, and escort were only temporary in order for our community to reset and recommit to the Park expectations and agreements that already exist. These expectations are intended to maximize instructional time.” Said Paddock. “It is about holding each other in loving accountability for how we share space at the high school. It requires us to know and understand our roles as individuals so we can each contribute to the collective responsibility of our learning community and it includes both students and adults.”
Miller said he feels that the new safety protocols are a good reset for Park, and he completely understands and stands with Park administration in its new actions.
“I think it’s a good idea. What happens is that kids and staff need to feel like they are safe here at school, and this one event was just something that got out of control,” said Miller. “(In considering) what we’re trying to do, I support the administration trying to do a reset and make sure that everybody feels like they are safe here at school.”
Habia said that even with the new safety protocols, such as an increase in police, locked bathrooms and escorts in the hallways, he feels as if fights will still happen.
“I mean, people who are gonna fight, they’re gonna fight regardless — in the bathroom, in the hall, wherever,” said Habia.“I don’t know if going and locking in the bathroom and getting someone to watch the bathroom may stop a fight. People fight regardless, but maybe it’ll help.”
According to Miller, structure is key for students’s success in school, and by having these protocols, that might be met.
“I generally fall on the side of having more precautions in place,” said Miller. “I think that ultimately a lot of kids like structure, and providing boundaries is not a bad thing.”
