Four Brockton School Committee members call for National Guard to squash high school fights

Four Brockton School Committee members are calling for the deployment of the National Guard inside the city's high school to clamp down a recent spate of disruptive student fights.

In a letter sent to Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan and the city council, the school officials wrote that high school students were wandering school hallways, getting into fights and using drugs. In response, some teachers have been calling out sick. The group proposed sending National Guard members to the high school and other district schools to serve as hallway monitors and substitute teachers.

"We do need to take our schools back into control and [make] sure that our students have a safe learning environment," said School Committee member Tony Rodrigues at a late Monday morning press conference. "Because what's going on at the high school is disheartening, and kids are losing precious learning time when kids are causing chaos."

Student violence, he said, was an issue for many communities across the state. He named Framingham as one example.

In a statement Monday, Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan said that the city does not support the use of the National Guard in schools.

"National Guard soldiers are not the answer," he wrote. "We have had school police working effectively and safely at the high school for decades."

He said he directed local police to work "to address the underlying issues" beneath the fights, and that officers have been "working tirelessly to investigate and respond to incidents promptly."

Sullivan said the city's chief of police, Brenda Perez, would update the school community after students return from February break.

"We understand the concerns and fears that these incidents have generated among students, parents and staff, and we want to reassure everyone that we are actively addressing them," Sullivan added, urging the community to "remain vigilant" and report "any suspicious activity or concerns" to police.

Gov. Maura Healey said Monday that her administration was speaking with local officials about the problems at Brockton High School.

In addition to Rodrigues, School Committee members Joyce Asack, Claudio Gomes and Ana Oliver were in support of calling up the Guard to the district's schools. The committee is made up of three other members, plus the superintendent and the mayor.