School security at Gary’s West Side Leadership Academy has already been tested just two months into the school year.
So far, it hasn’t failed.
The separate incidents involved a gun and a violent fight and were triggered by non-students who came to the school as classes ended for the day.
They rattled parents who voiced concern and led to last week’s safety roundtable at West Side. The event wrapped up Parent Engagement Week.
On Aug. 5, a school security officer noticed a handgun in the pocket of D’Andre Hicks, 21, as he confronted a West Side student over a perceived grievance involving a family member.
Authorities said Hicks fled to his car where school security detained him and placed him in a school security vehicle until Gary police arrested him. He’s facing a felony charge in Lake Superior Court.
On Sept. 23, as dismissal began and buses were departing, two adults and several non-Gary students entered the parking lot “to engage in a physical altercation with a few students from WSLA,” school officials said.
Gary police responded and two adults were arrested along with several non-West Side students.
During Friday’s safety roundtable, parent Nina Burton asked what the school could do to protect students, like her daughter, when unexpected violence breaks out.
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She said the majority of students aren’t involved in fights, but their safety is still in jeopardy.
Lakeisha Bridgeman, whose daughter is a sophomore, praised the actions of security officers.
“I’ve been outside when fights happened and security, they’re on it,” she said. “I feel confident security will be there.”
School security director Cliff Caldwell said the district has upgraded its security in recent years and just got a boost from a $25,000 donation from Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
The district purchased a large video boards, two drones, and a gunshot spotter housed in a security office at West Side.
The video boards allow security officers to monitor every school.
Caldwell said the district has about 800 cameras across the district. It also replaced its old metal detector system with a new, quicker walk-through one.
Crystal O’Brien, district public relations specialist, said the engagement week provided parents with data and they responded with feedback.
The Coffee with a Cop session was a success, she said.
“It opened a door that didn’t exist,” she said as parents voiced concerns and they learned the process of how to reach the right school official with a question.
Parents also learned how to use the Skyward app to access their child’s academic records and attendance data. Skyward tells them if a student is on track for graduation or not so parents can stay informed.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.