NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. — Parents and students said they’re worried and frustrated after several fights broke out over the last week at Valley High School in New Kensington.
One happened Wednesday and it was caught on camera, leaving some parents wondering how the district’s security guards let it get that far.
“Eventually what will happen is someone will get shot, or the school will get blown up,” one parent told Channel 11. That parent didn’t want to be identified.
“They should be in there learning, not fighting,” they said. “They are even doing it in the bathrooms, too. It’s scary to send your kids to school anywhere, really, but especially there because you don’t know what will happen. That school is not safe and should be investigated.”
New Kensington-Arnold School District Superintendent Dr. Christopher Sefcheck told Channel 11 that 10 students were suspended as a result of the fight. New Kensington Police will also file charges, Sefcheck said.
“We really have good kids here and something like this comes to the forefront,” Sefcheck said. He said the fight happened the same week as a blood drive and a successful ski trip with a diverse group of students. “So much community pride and it all got slammed here yesterday.”
Sefcheck agreed there’s a nationwide trend of students dealing with mental health issues in light of the pandemic. He said the district just hired four additional counselors and a behavioral specialist. It also created mindfulness spaces and brought in additional resources like the Hope Squad.
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