Shootings loom large in bullying discussions

The school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and a teen’s possible threat that prompted a cancellation of classes in Tucumcari loomed large during another discussion about bullying in last week’s school board meeting.

A teenager using an AR-15 rifle killed 19 children and two teachers in an Uvalde elementary school on May 24. The subsequent investigation has focused on security and police failures during the shootings.

On June 3, Tucumcari Public Schools canceled summer classes that day as a precaution after a 16-year-old posted a possible threat on Instagram. No arrests were made and no charges were filed; the teenager was released to parents.

The school board discussed bullying policies during its previous meeting in May.

Early in the June 20 meeting during public comments, mental health counselor Cassie Huffman said she was more concerned about an active shooter at the school than the board’s proposed changes in the district’s dress code.

“It’s not a matter of if, but when,” she said.

(See other story in this edition about proposed dress-code changes.)

Quay County Undersheriff Dennis Garcia said small programs and counseling services in the community are critical to curbing bullying.

Garcia said security at Tucumcari Public Schools is “great,” with locked doors at all access points.

“Overall, the school is in a good place,” he said. “It’s up to us to get trained for that situation which I hope never comes.”

Among the training Garcia mentioned is so-called “stop the bleed” first aid, noting many gunshot victims die from blood loss than the wound itself.

Garcia said district technologist Patrick Benavidez “did a great job” clearing the school during the possible threat and keeping students’ fears to a minimum.

New Mexico State Police officer Jerry Hernandez said his agency can help with tourniquet and active-shooter trainings.

Board President Heather Gonzales praised the actions of local police during the possible threat. She said the community has confidence that local law enforcement will not be inactive for long stretches during a school shooting, unlike Uvalde’s.

“They have full faith you will enter the building and not stop outside, looking in,” she said.

Board member Jerry Lopez said he’d received more complaints from constituents about bullying and that the district needs “more teeth” in its policies against it.

Acting Tucumcari Police Chief Pete Rivera said called bullying a national problem where the district needs to work with the community to address it early. He said if law enforcement gets involved with a bullying situation, “it’s out of hand by this point.”

Assistant superintendent Dave Johnson pointed out bullying has to be ongoing and persistent, not a one-time episode.

He also said school personnel rely on students to report such incidents.

“They don’t bully in front of the teachers,” he said.

Johnson said he hopes the district will hold more anti-bully training with staff before the school year resumes in August. He said many school shooters have a history of being bullied or bullying.

He said developing and building trust with personnel is key to students being forthcoming about their problems.

Johnson said local police are called if an assault occurs on school grounds, but he said the district shouldn’t overdo it with contacting law enforcement.

“We don’t want to be monsters that kids fear,” Rivera said, agreeing.

Johnson said the district conducted active-shooter drills but stopped them during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lopez suggested the district hire another full-time counselor in addition to its current full-time counselor and one part-time counselor.

“We’ve got to get a liaison for these students,” he said.

TPS superintendent Aaron McKinney did not attend the meeting. Johnson said he was ill with COVID-19.

In other business, the board approved a fuel bid from Tucumcari Oil Co. for $5.14 per gallon of unleaded gasoline and $5.12 a gallon for diesel. It was the only bidder.