Rochester School Board holds meeting amid concern over violence in schools

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Rochester School Board held its first meeting since the Rochester Teachers Association (RTA) asked for a solution to help stem the growing violence in the schools Thursday night.

Besides the union, parents and community leaders are also asking that these solutions come sooner rather than later.

In just the past few weeks the district has been rocked after a teacher accused a student of physically and sexually assaulting her at Franklin High School.

The teacher, identified as Corrine Mundorff, said she was attacked by a female student while trying to break up a fight back on Oct. 8.

On Wednesday, a student walking to his bus stop on Dewey Avenue was shot.

The wounded teen was taken to the hospital, treated and released.

The RTA sent a letter recently to district leaders offering suggestions to deal with the violence, including returning school resource officers to schools.

Rochester Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small said she committed to coming up with solutions, but bringing back school resource officers is not one of them.

People who spoke at the board meeting tonight agreed, asking more for restorative practices when it comes to problem students.

"I understand that safety is a great concern in our schools right now and that we need a solution," said Chris Widmaier. "The students are in pain. They are traumatized. There are lots of things that have happened in their lives that need healing. Police in the schools will not lead to that healing."

"Safety and security briefings from our director of security to better help understand the number, the cause and the nature of incidents occurring in schools and depending on the nature of the situation, recommendations and possible solutions are discussed," Myers-Small said.

Click here to watch the full meeting.