DISD Looks to Prevent After-School Violence

Teams with members of Dallas clergy

One week of school remains for students in the Dallas Independent School District, and school officials are ramping up security.

Multiple police agencies are teaming with clergymen to stop after-school violence as part of the Last Days of School Zero Tolerance program.

Under the program, police officers will monitor multiple DISD schools, as well as several Dallas Area Rapid Transit stations.

"Tuesday through Friday, we're going to be present in the various locations to make sure that these kids, when they get out of school, they go home," said the Rev. Ronald Wright, executive director of Justice Seekers Texas.

Wright said part of the problem stems from a lack of parenting in the home.

"We have to do our job as a community, as part of the village," he said. "We have to raise our own children. We have to monitor our children and make sure they do the right thing."

The program started after multiple YouTube videos displaying student violence popped up. The program is in its fourth year, and Wright said he has already seen improvements.

There were no problems in the first two years. Last year, several kids stole a man's laptop while riding DART. Wright said they were able to catch the kids before they did anything else.

"That sent a message out, because that got attention," he said. "That sent a message to most of those kids who were on that rail station, that we were not playing."

Wright said any individual caught fighting would be arrested, including onlookers as well.

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