BALLSTON SPA — Two altercations at Ballston Spa High School last week led to a School Resource Officer from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office monitoring lunch periods from a lifeguard chair.
The two incidents, happening shortly after each other during a single lunch period, add to the nine reported fights the school has had since the beginning of the school year, with four in just the last two weeks. Reportedly, the first altercation was between two students and was deescalated quickly, while the second involved two other students and a staff member in which a student sustained minor injury. A representative from the school stated that the School Resource Officer has always been a part of the staff and was not added as a direct result of the incidents.
“We are continuing to review statements and video footage of the incident and will take disciplinary action necessary once our review is completed,” stated High School Principal Gianleo Duca in an email sent to parents.
Speaking on the high number of altercations recently, Superintendent Ken Slentz stated that over the years there has been a pattern of increased student behavior concerns close to winter break.
At other schools across the state, there have also been reports of altercations and spikes in violence. Last Thursday, a student and hall monitor were sent to Albany Med with minor injuries following a fight at Albany High School involving a weapon; an investigation is still ongoing. Albany High School moved to remote learning the following day as a precautionary measure.
Green Island Union Free School District, just outside of Troy, went remote for a full week last week following recent altercations between students at the high school, one in which a student was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. Recently there have been 10 in-school suspensions and over 57 out-of-school suspensions at the high school.
The school district held an open forum in which parents and school administrators argued over the reason for the violence. Students at Green Island are scheduled to return to school in-person on Monday, Feb. 28, following winter break.
There has been rising tension in New York school districts lately surrounding the mask mandate, However, it is not clear at this time if there is any direct correlation to the incidents at these high schools, and at Ballston Spa High School in particular.
