Fights have broken out at high schools across the Twin Cities and beyond over the last few weeks, leaving parents concerned for students’ safety.
“This is also where my son is supposed to go next year and it is very scary to me and many other parents I know with eighth graders,” one mom said regarding an assault at White Bear Lake North High School. “Some are looking into other options but being that is so popular now, it’s harder and harder to find openings at private and charter schools.”
The video of the assault shows three students beating another student who is lying prone on the floor. Later in the video, two staff members attempt to intervene, while the students start attacking another student.
“This behavior is nothing new at North and it continues because administration doesn’t give the students appropriate consequences,” the parent said. She went on to say that while the White Bear district does have school resource officers, there is one officer splitting his time between two or three of the district’s buildings.
Alpha News was told the incident took place Oct. 11, but White Bear Lake Area Schools and the White Bear Lake Police Department did not respond to requests for comment and additional information.
Other fights took place at high schools in Hastings and St. Cloud. Video of the fight at Hastings High School shows at least six students, most of whom appear to be females, brawling and pulling each other’s hair. Other students appear to attempt to break up the fight.
“There are a lot of questions that adults should be having answered by the district as a whole being this is not an isolated incident,” parent David Udovich said in a district Facebook group where the video was published. “The only adult I saw was a custodian who was doing what he could and not lose his job.”
The Hastings incident allegedly took place Oct. 13, but Hastings High School also did not return Alpha News’ request for comment. The Hastings Police Department said it can’t comment because of an ongoing investigation.
A third instance of fighting took place at St. Cloud Tech High School Oct. 18, causing police to be called to the school. An officer was already present on the scene, CBS News reported, but additional units were called to assist.
The initial fight allegedly involved four students and, while officials were breaking up the fight, another fight began between two additional students. St. Cloud Tech High School did not respond to Alpha News’ request for comment about the fights.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
