CMS chief pleads with families after more guns found in schools: Check their backpacks
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Guns found in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
In the first few months of the 2021-22 school year, CMS has set a concerning new record for guns being brought to campuses.
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Ernest Winston issued “an urgent message” to CMS families Thursday night after three more firearms were found on high school campuses.
“Have the tough conversations about guns, other weapons and fights,” Winston urged. “Check their backpacks before they depart for school.
“A student who brings a gun on campus loses the opportunity to continue his or her education in a regular academic setting,” the superintendent said. “I urge you to drive this message home and help us prevent students from bringing guns on campus.”
“We have to stop guns from being brought onto our campuses,” he said.
Two guns were confiscated from West Charlotte High School students in the student parking lot Thursday, and a gun was found at North Mecklenburg High, the district said. West Charlotte later conducted a safety screening as a precaution, and no weapons were found, principal Donevin Hoskins said in a message to families.
“This continues a disturbing and dangerous pattern of violent behavior plaguing our schools since the beginning of our school year,” Winston said in his message. We must make our schools safe places where students can learn and staff can feel secure ...”
Through Dec. 2, at least 192 weapons — including 17 guns — have been found on CMS campuses this academic year.
Meeting with DA
Last week, Winston met with Mecklenburg District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Johnny Jennings, Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden and other leaders to discuss violent behavior in schools.
“The conversation with young people has to be focused on what they need from us,” Merriweather, who called the meeting, told the Observer. “How in the world are middle school and high school kids getting access to these weapons? The goal has to be eliminating the presence of every single firearm in every school in every county of the state.”
Among efforts Winston said last week that CMS is taking to address the problem:
▪ Obtaining clear backpacks for all high school students, but delivery is delayed until February, he said.
▪ Creating a tool to report incidents anonymously.
▪ Doubling the number of random safety screenings.
▪ Using metal detectors and wands.
“There is more work to do,” Winston said.
All hands on deck
Thursday night, Winston said he ordered CMS staff “to take an all-hands-on-deck approach” to addressing the issue of weapons on campuses.
“One more gun in our schools is one too many,” he said. “But guns are not the only challenge in our schools .... we have seen far more fights and hotter occasions among students so far this year than in previous school years.”
In his message, Winston asked families to talk to their children “about the consequences of violence in our schools, about bringing guns to school and about the consequences associated with gun violence. Whether in our schools or outside in the community, guns injure, or worse, they kill.”
Winston told parents they “might draw pushback” by talking to their children about the consequences of guns and by checking their backpacks, but it could prevent them from “entering the criminal justice system and forever changing the course of their lives.”
“Please help us as we strive to keep our schools safe places for teaching and learning,” Winston said before thanking parents for their support.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 8:39 PM.
