The Violence Project

A Washington High School parent voices her displeasure with the recent developments at the school.

James Edwards/Medill

Parents, students and administrators gathered Tuesday at Washington High School to try and reestablish a dialogue after last week’s meeting that resulted in a fight breaking out. Both meetings were the result of growing violence and gang tensions at Washington and its surrounding Southeast side neighborhood.

In a three-hour meeting originally scheduled for less than two, rumors and innuendo were brought to forefront along with solutions. Among the main ideas discussed is expanding parent patrols in the neighborhood and around the schools. Parents, on the other hand, would like to see a better line of communication between families and the school. They expressed disappointment in not receiving notices and being out of the loop on various matters. Through the bickering, grandparent Dorothy Mendez held back tears in her plea for something to be done.

“The security at this school need to do their job. … Please parents take care of your children. These children are lighting up their cigarettes and marijuana.”