"We do not have a gang problem," Hill Middle School Principal Esther Contreras told a crowd of anxious parents gathered for morning coffee at a nearby elementary school. "Gang incidents get reported to the police," she added and invited parents to check with the Dallas Police Department themselves.
A little less than 2 weeks later, a Hill student would be jumped from behind and assaulted by three students yelling "F* the Bloods, F* the Bloods" because of the maroon color in the victim's jacket.
Seeing the student on the ground while another kicked him in the head, a passing motorist would pull over, halt the attack and escort the beaten and bruised student back to the doors of the school.
The school's security officer, Joseph Thomas, (known as a "youth action officer"), would fail to record the name of the adult witness or talk to other kids who saw the attack. The victim's parents wouldn't be called, nor would the police until a week later.
When DISD's private police were finally called, the police officer would refuse to take a report.
So Principal Contreras lied, right? Maybe not.
Robert T. Hill Middle School is one of two middle schools feeding Bryan Adams High School. According to the District website, the school hosts 797 kids in two grade levels (7th and 8th).
Hill Middle School, you'll recall, previously made national headlines in 2003 [1] after two students engaged in oral sex while other students watched, and a security guard ignored the situation.
Though the principal denies there is a gang problem, many of the kids take issue with her assessment.
"About 60% of the kids here are in gangs," said one student under the condition of anonymity. "They talk about it openly in class."
During a passing period earlier this school year, kids reported other students screaming "C.K." and "B.K." back and forth in the hallway. "C.K." and "B.K." are short for "Crips Killer" and "Bloods Killer"--a reference to two rival gangs.
"They're wanabees," according to Assistant Principal Keith Evans. "These are guys who want to be in a gang, but aren't yet."
Still, the January 31 attack sounded pretty gang-related, didn't it?
Both Mr. Evans and Officer Thomas agreed.
So what can be done?
"I'm the only officer here," replied Officer Thomas, "I can't be in all places at all times."
Mr. Evans agreed. "Kids have a code of silence," he noted, "it is hard to break through it."
But maybe there is something that can be done.
Let's recap the chain of events: three students assault another child over clothing color, all the while yelling gang slogans. An adult passer-by witnesses the incident and stops. He helps the beaten student get to the school's security officer or "youth action officer."
The youth action officer didn't record the name of a single witness. The youth action officer, at the time, doesn't call the police and, as a matter of fact, doesn't even report the incident to Principal Contreras.
To top it off, asked if he would do anything different today, Officer Thomas replied: "no."
"No?"
That's it! We have our culprit! The school's youth action officer should be fired on the spot, right?
Nope.
Why not? Because Officer Thomas didn't do anything wrong. He violated no policy because, according to DISD Gang Intervention Specialist Charlotte Lewis, there's no policy to violate.
"There's no policy that requires the school to file a report," said Ms. Lewis, "but we encourage the school to call."
No reports?
Principal Contreras, who was once a youth action officer herself, says this isn't exactly correct.
"Every time a youth action officer talks to a student," explained Ms. Contreras, "the officer fills out a short form known as 'Form Y-16.'" These forms, which can contain information about gang activity and drugs, are kept in a notebook at the school.
Incredibly, these Y-16 forms are never shared with central administrators, according to Principal Contreras. "At the end of the month, the officer tallies the Y-16 forms by incident, puts them into categories and turns in a count," she explains.
Who decides which incidents fit which categories? The officer.
So arbitrary numbers, as opposed to reports of incidents, reach DISD central administration.
What do they do with the numbers? According to Mr. Evans, they send "gang intervention specialists" such as Ms. Lewis to schools to check restrooms for graffiti, interview kids and watch for other signs of gang activity.
And they hold public forums to tell parents and kids how "evil" gangs are. "We also listen to, and intervene in families when we need to," added Ms. Lewis. "I've even called CPS from time to time."
But assault is a crime, isn't it?
The beating this child received might actually be a felony. Shouldn't the police be involved?
Why doesn't the school just turn it over to the Dallas Police? Why does the DISD have its own police department to handle these situations?
According to a Dallas Police Sergeant who has dealt with the District before, it's simple: "we take them to jail."
"The DISD didn't like the public nature of the reports we were writing, and they didn't like the kids going to jail," said the Sergeant.
Indeed, when the DISD police were finally called a week later, the police officer refused to take a report saying too much time had elapsed for the incident to be properly investigated.
So what it all boils down to is poor communication and a lack of accountability. The youth action officers don't communicate with Principals. Central administrators don't want and don't get reports.
When victims wish to report a crime, the DISD sends its private police officers who, incredibly, refuse to take reports or document the crime--even from students who have been victims of gang beatings.
What can be done?
Principal Contreras has some ideas. "The training I [received] as a youth action officer was very valuable," she says. "Every administrator should have to take it."
Ms. Contreras also says the Board of Trustees needs to shoulder some of the blame for the discipline problems. "They were the ones who voted down corporal punishment," she notes.
She also believes that if the DISD were more open about its problems, the public could help. What about putting the information contained on Y-16 forms in a public place, or on the District's website?
"I don't think it would hurt," says Ms. Contreras.
But DISD records are frequently difficult to get--and it can take a long time to get them. The phrase: "pulling teeth on an un-anesthetized walrus" comes to mind!
We asked DISD spokesman Donny Claxton to talk about the incidents at Hill Middle School. "I'm going to have to refer you to the Legal Department, and they're probably going to want you to go through [the Texas Public Information Act]."
So when the gangs come out, and kids are beaten, District policies are in place to hush it up.
"My daughter comes home [frequently] and tells me about fights on the bus," one parent told us. Indeed, Principal Contreras acknowledged that there are several such incidents a year.
But, nowhere, will you find a DISD report openly discussing incidents of violence.
Nowhere will you find public reports of students beaten in gangland-style attacks.
It is policy.
Who is responsible for making these policies?
The School Board we elect, led by School Board President Lois Parrott--in whose district, ironically, Gang Middle School resides.