The Principal of Odessa Shannon Middle School, Dr. Natasha H. Booms, issued the following statement regarding a physical altercation involving students and staff that occurred during the 8th-grade lunch period on Monday, May 12:
May 13, 2025
Dear Odessa Shannon MS Community,I am writing to provide additional information regarding the physical altercation involving students and staff that occurred yesterday during the 8th-grade lunch period.
Yesterday, I communicated specifically with our 8th-grade families about an unacceptable incident that involved a verbal and physical altercation between some students and staff. My immediate focus was on those students who experienced it firsthand. I apologize for not reaching out to the entire community; I understand that many parents from other grade levels expressed concern about not receiving the notification. Please know that your engagement and concerns are valued, and I appreciate your understanding.
This incident remains under investigation, but a few students, when asked to follow the guidance of adults, did not comply, resulting in a heated exchange of words leading to a physical altercation. This behavior was unacceptable and resulted in two students being struck and also minor injuries for two staff members who were involved. The students were assessed by the school nurse and released, and the two staff members sought medical attention on their own. This is not who we are at Odessa Shannon Middle School, and we will be reinforcing expected behaviors within our school community as we move forward. To be clear, any students or staff who choose not to act appropriately may face consequences.
During the incident, we implemented a brief sheltering protocol that lasted for about four minutes to ensure the safe exit of students from the cafe. Importantly, this incident did not impact students in the 6th and 7th grades, and the bell schedule remained unaffected.
It has also come to my attention that the incident was videotaped and is being shared among students and possibly others. We strongly urge families to talk with their children about the harm that sharing such videos can cause. Disseminating footage of an incident like this adds to the trauma and hinders the efforts to resolve conflicts and restore a sense of safety in our schools.
In the aftermath of the incident, I made it a priority to meet with several 8th-grade families both in person and over the phone to discuss their concerns and check on our students’ well-being. This morning, we held a Town Hall meeting with our 8th-grade students to reassure them that their safety remains our top priority.
In support of our students, we had also arranged for ten social workers to be available on campus today for any student who wished to talk about the incident and process their feelings. We are committed to ensuring that each student feels safe and supported within our school community.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate this situation together.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Sincerely,
Natasha H. Booms
Dr. Booms
Principal
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