Some parents at Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy are expressing strong dissatisfaction with the disciplinary measures taken against a few students following their reactions upon discovering that their classmate had brought a gun to school.
On February 19, Mesquite police responded to the public charter school after an assistant principal reported that an armed student was barricaded in an office. Body camera footage shows officers attempting to de-escalate the situation before eventually firing at the teen when he appeared to raise his arms while holding the firearm. The student sustained minor injuries and was apprehended.
According to the parents of two affected students, at least three students have been suspended for allegedly not reporting their classmate’s possession of a gun.
Marta Fonseca requested that her 15-year-old daughter, Gabriela Rodriguez, share her account of the morning’s events. Rodriguez, a 9th grader at PTAA, recounted arriving late to class and noticing the armed student moving to sit next to her. The student then displayed the gun and made threats, leading Rodriguez to initially believe the firearm was fake. Despite the shock, she did not immediately alert authorities as she feared for her safety.
Fonseca emphasized that while she advocates for the “see something, say something” principle, her daughter should not face repercussions for her reaction under such distressing circumstances. She believes that expecting children to handle such situations perfectly is unrealistic given their developmental stage.
Edgar Villa, another parent, stated that his daughter shared a class with the armed student but was not informed about the weapon that morning. He and other parents are supporting the suspended students and arguing that the school failed to adequately prepare both students and staff for emergencies.
Villa also suggested that students might not feel comfortable confiding in teachers due to concerns about how they would be treated.
In response to inquiries, PTAA issued a statement explaining that they cannot discuss specific student cases due to privacy laws. However, they emphasized their commitment to student and staff well-being and stated that decisions are made following thorough consideration of established policies. The school also expressed dedication to ongoing safety education and community engagement initiatives.
They announced plans to hold meetings with specific parents and students to address concerns and collaborate on enhancing safety and security measures at the school.
