May 25, 2006 — A fight broke out at Elena L. Christian Junior High School Thursday leaving one student hospitalized. According to police public relations manager Shawna Richards, the incident occurred when Elena students were leaving the campus and Woodson students were arriving.
Richards said initial reports indicated there was an altercation between students when one male Woodson student received a blow to the back of the head with an unknown object. The altercation occurred between 11:45 and noon on the Elena Christian campus. The injured student was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital, where he was treated.
Richards said that although initial reports said the student was unconscious, the student was "alert" when visited in the hospital by Sgt. Thomas Hannah. Richards did not know if the student had been released from the hospital.
Richards also said the object the student was assaulted with has not been identified and the number of students involved had not been determined. Richards said the matter is still under investigation and she would know more after she looked at the police report.
Woodson and Elena Christian students have had several clashes since Sept. 2005 when mold infestation at Woodson forced a merger of the schools. Elena now serves both populations in double sessions — with Elena's 424 students attending in the morning and Woodson's 620 pupils in the afternoon.
In February, Woodson teachers staged a job action saying the administration was not communicating with them about the status of repairs at their school. At that meeting, some teachers said the situation is causing low student productivity At a legislative hearing in February, Education Commissioner Noreen Michael said Woodson would not be "operable" until Sept. 2006.
Michael said the department continues to "work aggressively" to address Woodson's mold problem and has hired Safety Solutions Consultants Inc. to identify the sources of moisture causing the mold growth. Michael said the department is finalizing work plans for the school's parking lot, which floods regularly because of various drainage problems.
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
