The Place for Jersey City News
Log In / Register
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Jersey City Times
  • News
  • Food and Fun
    • Food And Drink
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    • Other Fun Stuff
  • Education
  • Business
  • Neighborhoods
    • Downtown
      • News
      • Guide
    • Heights
      • News
      • Guide
    • Journal Square
      • News
      • Guide
    • Bergen Lafayette
      • News
      • Guide
    • Greenville
      • News
      • Guide
    • Westside
      • News
      • Guide
  • Opinion
  • Columns
    • Eye Level
    • Mamarama
  • Obituaries
  • Event Calendar
  • Support our Mission
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Parents and Administrators Grapple with Threat of Violence at Dickinson

Parents and Administrators Grapple with Threat of Violence at Dickinson

Andrea Crowley-Hughes
December 14, 2021/in Education, header, Journal Square, News
by Andrea Crowley-Hughes

Danielle Walker, mother of a Dickinson High School student, told the Jersey City Board of Education that her daughter is one of the many who has been afraid to attend school due to a threat of mass violence made on social media that led to extra patrolling at the school on Monday.

“She said to me that she did not want last night to be our last night together,” Ms. Walker said at Monday night’s virtual school board caucus meeting.

A 16-year-old girl was charged Monday with threatening violence against a group of Egyptian students at the high school after a day of increased police presence.

Parents like Walker are pressing the board to ensure student safety and to provide mental health resources to help students cope with their fear caused by the threat.

“The burden of keeping a high school of over 2,000 students safe should not fall on a fraction of security guards,” Ms. Walker said. “They are very low in numbers, and they need support.”

Although Ms. Walker said Dickinson teachers and support staff are doing everything in their power to create a supportive environment, she questioned whether the district as a whole is doing the same.

“Mental health support is long overdue,” Ms. Walker said. “Students need therapeutic counseling. Today’s crisis was a clear example of that.”

Schools Superintendent Franklin Walker mentioned the threats in his opening statement at the meeting, thanking the Jersey City Police Department for its swift response.

The need for counseling services could not could not be more pressing given the board’s vote to  to end a contract for such services for the 2021–22 school year with vendor Reimagined Mind. Per a board vote in November, the contract will end Dec. 17.

Jessica Taube, a parent who has spoken twice already at board meetings about the need for student counseling in the schools, said Monday that she is still waiting for a clear response from the board on the matter.

“I received a letter from Superintendent Walker last week. Unfortunately, this letter does not address the clarity and information we are looking for,” she said.

In response, Superintendent Walker said social, emotional, and mental health will be addressed in large part through an extended day program within the schools and that a program called “Stop Everything and Communicate” as well as other initiatives has been successful.

“Can we do more? Absolutely. Will we do more? Absolutely,” he said.

Tags: Jersey City Education
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
You might also like
New Private High School to Open Next Fall in Newport
McNair Academic High School Jersey City Moving to Wealth-Based Admissions at McNair and Infinity: A Student Reports
Jersey City Board of Education Special Meeting July 15 2021 Jersey City BOE Wrestles with McNair and Infinity Admissions
Child with face mask Here are the Exceptions to Governor Murphy’s School Mask Mandate
William L. Dickinson High School Jersey City Nine Candidates Vie for Three School Board Seats
Menstrual Products Fighting “Period Poverty,” Program to Provide Students with Menstrual Products
Dickinson High School Jersey City School Board Candidate Forum Goes Ahead without “Change for Children” Slate
NJCU Jersey City NJCU Faculty Look to Topple President
Jersey City, US
11:02 am, July 5, 2022
84°F
clear sky
Wind: 12 mph
Pressure: 1017 mb

Latest Articles

Christopher Columbus Drive Jersey City
July 04, 2022 /

Downtown Streets Gridlocked by Fireworks Traffic

327 Ege Ave Jersey City
July 04, 2022 /

Report: Fireworks Suspected in West Side House Fire

Forget the Whale
July 02, 2022 /

Rogue Waves July: Six Concert Picks in Jersey City

Raisa Nosova "Uprooted"
July 01, 2022 /

Muralist Raisa Nosova Raises a Distress call for Ukraine

Dickinson High School Jersey City 16x9
July 01, 2022 /

Former Dickinson High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault

CONTACT US

    ADS/INFO

    For information on advertising opportunities, please contact - ads@jcitytimes.com

    For information on writing opportunities, please contact - info@jcitytimes.com

    Download our media kit here

    ABOUT US

    About Jersey City Times

    Contact Jersey City Times

    Social

    Archives

    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    Copyright © 2020 JCityTimes.com. All Rights Reserved - powered by Enfold WordPress Theme
    Fulop Rolls out New Solid Waste Fee to Replace Water Tax Mayor Steven Fulop Jersey City Fire Man Succumbs to Injuries Suffered in Greenville Apartment Fire
    Scroll to top