Tensions erupted Monday night at an Education Town Hall meeting at Okkodo High School, with calls for more attention on student safety on the heels of a recent riot breaking out at Tiyan High School. 

“Promise me that you are going to take care of the children and not let them get hurt! Stop the violence happening at the schools,” said Elena Garcia, PTO President at JMG Elementary School.

The incident, which took place on April 3, left two school staff members injured. 

Officials with the Guam Department of Education confirmed that one staffer was struck multiple times, while the other was knocked into a gutter, temporarily losing consciousness. 

That staff member needed three weeks to recover from arm bruising and swelling.

The violent scene brought GDOE and the Guam Police Department’s School Resource Officer program into sharp focus for Elena Garcia, a grandparent of a Tiyan High Titan.

Garcia even claimed her grandchild witnessed a SRO encouraging students to keep fighting during the chaos.

“It’s so embarrassing that you have SROs who tell them to go ahead and fight–it’s ridiculous,” said Garcia. 

However, Chris Anderson, Student Support Administrator with GDOE, confirmed with KUAM that the SRO assigned to Tiyan High was on leave, meaning there was no SRO present during the fight.

He added an officer assigned to George Washington eventually responded to the incident, which was resolved upon their arrival.

Anderson further clarified that SROs are not responsible for student safety or school security, but are tasked to respond to criminal violations, as the schools are responsible for addressing discipline issues. 

“Again, no excuses, ma’am. We have very specific protocols when it comes to student discipline–zero tolerance for fighting, rioting, and drug possession,” said Anderson. 

It’s a point only underscoring Garcia's reasoning for bringing the issue up.  

“All GDOE is responsible. They need to get off their a**. I'm sorry, I don’t mean to say it like that. But this has got to stop,” said Garcia. 

Meantime, former Oversight Chair On Education, Senator Chris Barnett, said in the last budget, he was able to secure the funds for the current SRO project, as an attempt to appropriate $2 million for school security cameras failed to garner enough support.