SALISBURY, Md.- Wicomico County Public Schools are addressing school safety with the formation of the youth safety task force.
The initiative comes after several incidents at Wicomico County schools this year. Wicomico County Sheriff's deputies say that on Monday a teacher at Bennett Middle School was taken to the hospital after they were pushed by a student. There were no serious injuries and Wicomico County Public Schools spokesman Paul Butler says the teacher was back in the classroom Tuesday.
There have been several other incidents this school year as well. Just earlier this month, three teachers were sent to the hospital after a fight between students at Parkside High School.
Now, the district is launching a task force that includes the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, the Wicomico County State's Attorney and the Department of Juvenile Services.
County leaders say they formed the task force to identify and address systematic issues among its student body. According to the release, "this purposefully small task force aims to maintain and grow public confidence through the collaboration of top policy and decision makers in agencies that are among those most responsible for our students and youth."
The goal of the task force is to implement solutions quickly and effectively. Some families say it's a step in the right direction.
"Proactive is much better than waiting until the disaster happens," Kim Daniel of Fruitland says. "I think they need to take action now. It can happen here just as easily as it can happen anywhere else. And as we all see, it's happening everywhere. There's no demographic, there's no part of the country that's been left out."
David Black of Fruitland adds, "It'll be an improvement. That's what I say, it'll be an improvement. Ease some parents' minds. That's what we need. Ease people's minds around here."
Sheriff's deputies say there have been charges filed against two students in the Parkside incident for assault, disorderly conduct, disturbing school operations, and affray.
The task force is in its early stages, with more discussions and initiatives to come.