Parents Ask CPS To Intervene At Charter School Following Lunchroom Brawl
(CBS) – There are new demands from parents of Longwood charter school, after 18 students were arrested last week for a fight that broke out in the lunchroom.
Parents are asking Chicago Public Schools to step in and protect their children from more violence.
CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker has this follow-up report.
Railynn Simms-Webster found herself on the bottom of a fight, Nov. 18. It occurred near Chicago International Charter Schools Longwood, about two blocks away.
"It's nerve wrecking and frustrating," Railynn says of attending classes at the charter school
She is the second student to publically complain about being bullied by other girls at Longwood.
Last week, there was a lunchroom brawl inside the school that was captured on cell phone video. Railynn was one of 18 students suspended and arrested, even though parents say they have been urging school officials to defuse tensions at the school.
Tenisha Simms, Railynn's mother, sent a letter to CIC, which runs Longwood. She says she also sent an email to CPS, writing: "My child is the victim of emotional, physical, and cyber bullying ... The school has been aware of this and made no moves to prevent it."
Simms wants CPS to pressure Longwood administrators to increase security and train the teachers in conflict resolution.
"Her safety is my No. 1 priority, and this school is not protecting her," she says.
