New Safety Rules In Place At Medford High School After Stabbing

MEDFORD, MA — Medford High School reopened for classes after holiday break on Tuesday with a new set of safety rules in effect following recent incidents of violence, including a stabbing in mid-December.

New rules lay out a bathroom opening schedule that has most bathrooms closed before and after school, according to a message to the community from Superintendent of Schools Marice Edouard-Vincent last week.

Every open bathroom is set to have an adult monitoring it, with no more than two students permitted into any bathroom at a time.

Rules require all students to eat lunch in the cafeteria, while prohibiting students from leaving campus during lunch or at any other time during the school day.

Rules also set out new guidelines around hall passes.

Medford High School will, among other things, additionally begin a process to require all students and staff to display IDs at all times.

“The recent incidents at (Medford High School) are deeply troubling, and we have heard the concerns of many in the community demanding immediate changes,” Edouard-Vincent said in her message announcing new protocols.

“We begin the new calendar year with a renewed sense of determination to address these issues head-on,” Edouard-Vincent continued.

The stabbing, which took place on Dec. 19, sent a student to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to officials. A second student was taken into police custody following the incident, police said.

The stabbing prompted more calls for change after school community members had already flagged concerns about bullying, fights and other violence.

School and city officials said they worked together in recent days and weeks before rolling out new safety plans last week.

As part of her message, Edouard-Vincent noted various mandatory meetings and listening sessions set for this week where she said school personnel would discuss new protocols and answer questions from students and staff.

Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn shared a statement following one such meeting Tuesday afternoon, highlighting work to encourage students to bring issues directly to school staff.

"No one should have to endure bullying, discrimination or any other behavior that leads to a negative learning experience," Lungo-Koehn said. "It doesn't matter what the issue is, bring it to someone who can help."

Recent work, Edouard-Vincent said, marks “the first of several important action steps” in the wake of Medford High School violence.

Edouard-Vincent said she will present a more detailed action plan on school culture and climate this week.

The school district, in the meantime, is looking to hire more building monitors, according to Edouard-Vincent, while also filling vacancies for other positions.

Active Medford Public Schools job listings are available here.

See Edouard-Vincent’s message to the community explaining safety changes here.