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Governor Maura Healey has decided against sending the National Guard to assist with security concerns at Brockton High School, despite pleas from four members of the Brockton School Committee. The request was made to help control violence at the school, but Healey deemed it inappropriate.
Instead, Healey’s administration has provided a grant to Brockton to audit its current safety conditions. “As governor, I want to make sure that every student and educator in the state, including in Brockton, is safe and is able to go to school and learn in a safe environment,” Healey stated.
The push for National Guard intervention came after a press conference last week where school committee members highlighted issues of chaos within the school. However, Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan opposed the idea of National Guard soldiers at the high school.
The proposal to bring in the National Guard stemmed from concerns about fights, disruptions, students leaving school without permission, trespassers, and teacher absenteeism. Some school committee members suggested using the National Guard as substitute teachers or hall monitors but faced pushback from those who believed it would send the wrong message to students.
Community members gathered outside the school on Monday as students returned from February break, showing support for both students and staff. They emphasized the importance of community engagement and parental involvement in addressing the issues at the school.
