Triche: Incident over quickly

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 25, 2010

By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

RESERVE – When 13 students were arrested for fighting at East St. John High School Wednesday, news of the incident quickly made the rounds. Television crews swarmed the school, and soon the entire New Orleans metro area had heard about the brawl and resulting arrests.

At the school itself, however, the incident had much less of an impact than one might suspect.

“It’s not always about the kids who make the wrong decisions,” said Principal Patricia Triche.

She pointed out that in a school of 1,400 students that draws from all parts of the east bank of St. John the Baptist Parish, scuffles are sometimes unavoidable, but with the help of the community, such large-scale altercations might be avoided. The fight, she said, was the result of a feud that had been going on for two years.

“We were not notified by anybody,” she said. “Anybody who’s having conflicts, we need to know about it.”

Since the incident, Triche has kept open and active lines of communication with parents and the community as a whole. She said she refused no phone calls after the fight and believes communication was key in not letting the incident escalate further in the minds of community members.

“I believe the parents trust that their kids are safe here,” she said, adding, “Any parent that wants to come see me can come see me.”

Quick action on the part of the school administration and local authorities also helped the actual physical violence from escalating, said Triche.

“Just as quick as it happened, it was over,” she said.

Superintendent Courtney Millet praised Triche’s handling of the incident, saying she knew Triche did not necessarily need to involve the authorities but did so because she was acting in the best interest of the school.

“That’s why she has made such a difference at that school,” said Millet.

Triche also does not regret the handling of the incident but was dismayed at the reaction of the television media.

“They come out here for the sensationalism,” said Triche.

She said such reports dampen the shine of recent school achievements.

“It takes the light away from the good kids,” she said. “Most of our kids are really, really good kids.”

She quickly pointed out she is not condemning the students involved in Wednesday’s altercation but said she will uphold the district’s zero tolerance policy regarding violence in schools.

“If they have consequences now, it might save their life in the future,” she said.

According to Triche, all 13 of those arrested could be recommended for expulsion pending the results of the investigation.

In the mean time, the school has stepped up teacher patrols and security and is reviewing morning bus arrival procedures. But she stresses the most valuable method when combating such violence in community involvement.

“It’s going to take all of us,” she said.

Still, she is trying not to dwell on the incident too much.

Said Triche, “It’s a new day, and we’ve moved on.”