BB Gun Found in Locker; Student Hospitalized After Assault at Framingham Middle School

FRAMINGHAM, MA -- A BB gun was found in a student’s locker this week at Fuller Middle School in Framingham.

Earlier in the week, a student was hospitalized with a concussion and broken facial bones, after an assault by another student.

Another student was suspended, for threatening to beat up a teacher.

All three incidents comes days after Fuller Middle School principal Sharon Seyller sent a Sunday email to parents, along with Vice Principal Mike Stevens, about violence at the grade 6-7-8 school.

In Sunday’s email, school administration informed parents there have been ”events of physical aggression between students” at Fuller Middle School, including a fight in the school’s cafeteria.

Teachers and staff tell Framingham Patch more than a dozen students have been suspended in the last two weeks.

Parents told Patch they saw a handful of police cruisers at the school on Thursday.

And on Friday, there was yet another fight involving seventh grade students.

Patch contact Seyller for comment. Framingham Superintendent of School Stacy Scott responded for the principal.

Scott said a BB gun was “retrieved from a student’s locker” and that student was disciplined. Scott said a bus driver overheard the student talking about the gun and informed school administration.

“We understand we do on occasion get incidents at schools. These incidents are isolated, but have occurred during a short period of time. It does not indicate an epidemic of violence,” said Scott.

“We will increase vigilence and support to make sure students are safe,” said Scott.

Last week, school administration asked seventh grade students, “Overall, how safe do you feel in school?”

The results were:

• Extremely safe 10%

• Very safe 32%

• Moderately safe 44%

• Slightly safe 10%

• Not at all safe 4%

Grade 8 students were surveyed on Monday, and the rest of the students were to have been surveyed this week.

Scott said survey results of the entire student body were not available on Friday.

“Obviously, we are concerned,” said Scott. “We want to make sure students feel safe in school.”

Scott said the school will be providing more communication to parents. He said he anticipates a letter will go home in the “next couple of days.”

The Superintendent said he is not sure why there has been a spike in incidents in the last few weeks at the school, one of three middle schools in the district. He said the police have been called when warranted.

“With our partnership with the Framingham Police, we feel we have enough support and resources to deal with the situation,” said Scott.

The Superintendent said he wants to remind students that they can not bring items to school, even accidentally, that can cause harm to their peers.

He said several of the incidents stem from “emotional” issues with students.

“We are watching the situation carefully,” said Scott, who added “we need to find appropriate ways for students to manage their emotions.”

Scott said he is looking at several options, including but not limited to, bringing outside speakers or support into the building to help the middle schoolers deal with their “emotions” and “relationship issues.”

“Clearly, we have work to do to help more students feel even safer in the school, but we want to assure you that we will continue to work to ensure that our students - your children, can learn in a safe and supportive environment,” wrote the school’s principal and vice principal in an email to parents on Sunday, Dec. 7.

“Peer aggression, whether in the form of physical assaults or threats is a significant problem in many middle schools across the country. We also know that if a student does not feel safe in school, then they are not going to learn,” wrote the principal and vice principal on Sunday.

Scott agreed if a student feels “unsafe” it makes it more difficult for a student to learn.

“We want all students to feel safe,” said Scott. “It is for that reason, we will help students work through emotional issues and relationship stresses that may be coming to school.”