After shooting, parents call for increased safety
HISD officials vow to boost security following Lamar student’s death
Two days after the fatal shooting of a student near Lamar High School, Houston Independent School District officials agreed Thursday to increase security at the River Oaks campus through the end of the school year.
The announcement came in a meeting with parents, who had gathered on the front lawn of the school to call for improved safety at the campus.
The district confirmed in a statement that it is increasing police presence at the school. Two Lamar students died in an apparent murder-suicide off campus just days earlier.
“District administrators are working with concerned parents to come up with effective solutions in the short and long term,” the HISD statement said. “Our goal is to ensure that students are safe and receive counseling support as needed during this challenging time. It is also our goal to ensure that teaching and learning continue. Please know we take these situations very seriously as the safety of our students is always our top priority.”
Caroline Jones, whose daughter is a sophomore at the school, was among the parents who met with officials Thursday.
It was the second time Jones was on campus this week. On Wednesday, she wanted to meet with the principal and was shocked to find that the front door was unmanned.
On Thursday, with other parents in tow, she returned to demand changes.
“You would think the day after a drive-by shooting involving two of the students, they could step up,” Jones said.
Scared students
After briefly waiting outside in the cold, she and the other parents met with administrators, who promised to increase security. Jones said she feels encouraged.
“All these parents are here because we love our kids,” Jones said. “We’re going to stay on top of (HISD) and make sure that they bring officers to this school.”
Several of the parents at the school Thursday described the fear their children now feel as a result of the shooting this week.
Delindsey Mack, 18, died Tuesday in what police said was a targeted attack. The gunman shot the teen on the sidewalk outside the Bethany Christian Church parking lot, which neighbors the HISD campus.
The gunman then stood over him and fired more shots. ‘I can’t lock the door’
Houston Police Department officials have said that gang violence may have been a factor in the shooting but have not confirmed it as the cause.
The incident prompted a lockdown that lasted two hours. David Wilkenfeld said his daughter, a sophomore, was in a room with a substitute and a door that wouldn’t lock.
“She was texting me. She says, ‘I’m scared. I can’t lock the door,’ ” Wilkenfeld said. “That is a basic protocol that should be able to be followed by this size school and this large of a school district.”
After the meeting with administrators, Jones called on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to provide more funding for schools.
“I know you cannot secure a school 100 percent,” Jones said. “You cannot prevent crime. But you can take basic and minimal steps, and that’s all that we’re asking for here, is a little bit of support for these kids who are currently scared.”