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Ten Cape Henlopen students are expected to be arrested for disorderly conduct following an early morning brawl in the cafeteria of the school.
Three teachers received minor injuries during the fight on Wednesday, Jan. 17, which spilled over from a Tuesday night basketball game, said state police spokesman Cpl. Jeff Oldham.
The police were called to school and the nine male students and one female student involved in the fight were immediately sent home, said Oldham.
Cape Henlopen Principal John Yore said some ice packs were handed out, but no one was seriously injured. According to the police report, one teacher complained of a strained muscle, another of a pinched arm and the third complained of a fat lip.
For six of the students, the fight was their first offense, but four of the 10 students were also involved in a fight in December. That fight was unrelated to the one that broke out on Wednesday morning at the school, Oldham said.
He said the fight seemed to be a stand-off between students from Burton Village and students from East Atlantic Apartments in Rehoboth Beach.
“Fighting will not be tolerated,” said Yore. “Strict disciplinary action has been taken.”
It was not clear what specific disciplinary action would be taken, but expulsion is one possibility, he said.
“The staff was very responsive,” said Yore. “We have staff monitors and everyone was mobilized very quickly to resolve this.”
The school’s discipline dean, Bobby Maull, was not on the premises at the time, but he was rapidly and actively involved, said Yore.
“The vast majority of our students conduct themselves appropriately,” said Yore, who along with teachers and staff members is planning a summit to talk to parents and students about violence and safety in the school.
The school sent a letter home to parents to let them know about the fight and assure them that swift action will be taken.
“I, along with other members of the school team, will be meeting with parents and students throughout the next week,” said Yore in the letter. “As a school, we want to work in partnership with the community to resolve conflicts and issues.”
Not all parents feel reassured
Kim Yost, who has two daughters attending Cape Henlopen, said her kids are afraid to go to school. She said parents need to get involved to stop the violence within the school. She is urging parents and students to attend the upcoming school board meeting to express concerns. The meeting will be at 7:15 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 25, at Mariner Middle School in Milton.
“It’s almost to the point where I’m going to pull my kids out of school,” said Yost. “I’m tired of being afraid to send them to school. Someone is going to get hurt. I want my daughters to be safe.”
Contact Rachel Swick at rswick@capegazette.com
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