IF gangs exist in Katy isd? If? really, now. Are we that naive? Have you not driven through the neighborhoods on the north side? there is tagging everywhere. Have you never spoken to students from any of the high schools on the north side? Talk about getting to the party too late...

Hate to tell everyone, but just because there's not a lot of tagging/visual giveaways on the south side doesn't mean that those same gang members aren't doing plenty of business here. Look around strip mall parking lots, big box/grocery parking lots, etc. - it's not that hard to spot. It's not like there's a magic force field "protecting" us - it's just I-10! After all, isn't the south side where all the benjamins are?

As for school shootings, I'd say KISD is MUCH MUCH more likely to have a Columbine-type shooting than a gang drive-by. However, I'm hope there are enough obstacles in place to avoid both - and it all starts with open, safe, confidential communication between students and administration.

There is plenty of tagging going on over on the south side of Katy. Nice neighborhoods are not immune to becoming gang territory. What makes me laugh is that KatyISD is just now waking up to the fact that there are gangs in their midst. Too little, too late.

Ekacker:

I disagree. I think that overall they've done a terrific job of keeping everything hush-hush perception-wise and fairly under control in schools. The kids know there are gang members in school but incidents have been pretty limited on most campuses - which is the best thing that we can hope for from our district administration. Hey, if gangs want to clash, they'll clash; the only thing that KISD is charged with is keeping kids safe during the school day and school activities. Besides, dealing/possessing drugs and weapons on a campus is a federal offense, not a local misdemeanor.

Honestly, I'm a LOT more concerned about the activities outside the boundaries of schools. Does anyone truly believe that Fort Bend/Harris Sheriff's Depts., Katy Police or any of the constables that get paid to patrol our communities truly have one iota of effect on gangs and their activities? Me neither.

I use to read the Katy ISD Police Crime reports that were posted on the Watchdogs Website. However, of course, they are no longer posted there. I was surprised at the number and type of calls KISD police responded to (on BOTH the north and south campuses).

My kids recently told me about a few drug searches at their school (Woodcreek Jr. High), where the KISD police brought in drug-sniffing dogs for the lockers. Can't help but wonder what else is going on in these schools.

Helen, do you know if the KISD police reports are still available to the public and where and how does one go about viewing them? I

Some posters are sooo imature and blind to reality with the North Side South Side crap it's ridiculous. Gang members and gang activity occur on both the south and north side - this is a fact. Simply put, Katy has done a fine job in keeping it hush hush as "westsidebill" stated.

To answer your question Helen, what strategies are in place for dealing with gang activity? I think you're better equipped to get an answer to that question because whenever I've mentioned "gangs" in Katy, I was looked at like I spoke some space age language or something.

I wanted to contact Helen when I received this letter from the principle yesterday. This incident happened last week and I had already heard about it from my daughter who is a Jr at MRHS. The principle makes it sound like "gang" activity. He should have elaborated on the specifics so that people would not assume anything. As for taking "action", the students were merely put in ISS to keep them from acting on the threats they made. Teenagers can be so ignorant sometimes. I'm thankful my kids are playing with a full deck of cards....jeeeez!

sickofit,
When I hear of gangs in Katy schools - I just shake my head. You see I moved here after spending 20 years in the Los Angeles area, where gang violence is very real! What is happeing here - some young thugs wannabes -- pales in comparison. Are you afraid to walk out your door because a gang member might attack you here in Katy? Probably not -- I prefer to keep this in perspective. Is there a crime element in Katy ISD schools - yes there is. They also might affiliate with Houston gangs but I don't believe education is a high priority for a bonafide gang member. It is not the kind of role where you are a gang member one day and a student the next. The main reason we chose Katy schools is because of the safety of the system here. I would not allow my children in ANY public school in southern California.

westsidebill wrote: As for school shootings, I'd say KISD is MUCH MUCH more likely to have a Columbine-type shooting than a gang drive-by. However, I'm hope there are enough obstacles in place to avoid both - and it all starts with open, safe, confidential communication between students and administration.

I agree with everything you are saying here and it does seem like we have had some close calls where this type of incident has been averted. Please encourage students to report any suspicious activity through the Safety Net Program.

westsidebill and ekacker,

I am out a lot recently teaching my two boys how to drive and I see a very heavy police force present in the Katy area - Harris County constables, Fort Bend PD, and state troopers in addition to Katy ISD Patrols. In an hour timespan, we typically see 3-4 patrol cars. I feel really safe in Katy but I can understand that the dynamics have changed here in the past 20 years or so.

schemp wrote:
Helen, do you know if the KISD police reports are still available to the public and where and how does one go about viewing them?

Yes - they are. I will look into that and get back to you!

tricia71,

You have provided valuable insight here. I wish the principal had been able to be more candid as well but then he would have been accused of downplayng the incident. I've spent plenty of time at MR to know that it is not a hotbed of gang violence. My local high school in so cal had metal detectors, the kids had no access to lockers whatsoever and people were shot and killed several times on campus. Katy ISD could not keep this kind of activity hush-hush.

I would like to know why were these kids put into ISS, what exactly did they do? My concern is what happens to the high school kids and staff when these wantabee's bad boys/girls return to their school? Will they be watched closely?? Surely they will come back resentful,if they do come back at all? We need to stop all the childish statements about the North/South side. My child ,your child, no child deserves to attend school and their life be threaten.

@sickofit.....really? The northside? You say that as if living on the northside is like living in the ninth ward or something. Get over yourself. I live on the "northside" and it's very nice and quiet. I wouldn't change it for anything. Well, unless I win the lottery.....then I'm moving to the beach. I agree with Helen. These kids are wanna be thugs with no parental guidance at home. My jr higher went to a school function, left for the park with some friends, then tried to come back to the school function.....busted by the principal, he was forced to call me to come pick him up. I love the personal attention these kids get from every administrator. Makes me feel a whole lot better sending my kids to public school.

Helen,

Comments on the website of "another area paper" mention that the kids involved were not minorities, but were white Nazi type wannabes. Can you verify that information? It apparently was kept pretty quiet at the school as none of the students I know are aware of the details.

Thanks.

I will put that question to Katy ISD right now INJ. The wannabes part is likely true given the ISS punishment. That is hardly the type of punishment you would get for gang activity.

@i am not Julie.....I did not think it was relevant to mention any race and this is why I don't like Mr. Grisdale's vague wording of this "gang activiy". I can confirm what I was told by my daughter and yes they were Nazi type wannabes. They had made a threat on a pep rally that was going to be held if I remember correctly what my daughter said. They had to sit in ISS the whole week to keep them out of "general population" because of the threats that were made I assume. I was wondering myself why they weren't sent to Alt. school if the threat was credible enough to keep them away from the rest of the school......hmmmmmmm.

INJ and tricia71,

I have a problem those who are labeling these kids as Nazi-type wannabes. A charge this strong needs to be backed up with some details. Did they use language to suggest such? Do they wear clothing with Nazi symbols? To me - it just sounds like a group of mischievous kids. If the Nazi claims are true, then wouldn't the students have a harsher punishment than ISS? I hope KISD can clear this matter up. It seems like Grisdale's letter raised more questions than it answered.

Helen, I agree and suspect that some of it could simply be rumors. As I said, I don't know anything except what I read on the other website. It's hard to say how they would be punished if it was truly gang activity. According to the Discipline Management Plan, "Participating in an unauthorized organization, secret society, or gang activity" is listed as a Level III, in which case ISS would be an appropriate punishment, but "Gang activity" is listed as a Level IV, in which case DAEP placement is mandatory. I'm not sure how they decide what to enforce.

Tricia, the reason I mentioned race is when most people hear "gang activity" they automatically think of minorities. It could certainly be enlightening for those who are assuming this is the case here.

Race is relevant because the majority of gang members in the Houston area are black or Hispanic. That is another reason that these kids could just be plain old trouble makers - plenty of those in every ethnic group!

I've sent a request to Katy ISD this afternoon for more details and I will share whatever I receive but as parents of the school - you should be able to receive more information.

I asked my son again and gave him the "details" that I had read. He said, "Oh, I didn't think that was gang activity. Some new kids with half shaved heads said they were going to shoot up a pep rally so they got put in ISS." He said when these kids showed up, everyone was saying that there were Nazis at the school.

Helen,

I, too, grew up in a world with "real" gangs. I lived in both Spring Branch and Acres Homes -- I get it. My problem with the wannabes comes when they actually decide to take the next step from wannabes to the real deal.

My original post was only in response to the "IF" there are gangs tone of the article.

Tricia71: I also live on the north side and I am not trying to deepen the divide (real or imagined, I am only speaking about what I see every day. Tagging is on the rise in my neighborhood. If it is happening on the south side, I am not surprised. I work with these kids every day: their apathy, their lack of supervision, and their disregard for the property of others worries me of things to come.

I apologize if I am offending anyone here but this sounds like some people overreacted and perhaps overstated the gang connection. If they made the threats then that is what they should be punished for. I believe the principal has some discretion with how he handles this under the TEC Code of Conduct. He will have to have a strategy for addressing future threats from this group and I believe that parents have the right to know what the protocol will be.

Actually I think it's a pretty big deal because on too many occasions we've heard kids say, "I heard about that but I didn't think he was serious so I didn't tell anyone." My son didn't hear it directly so he thought it was just typical school rumors about kids who look different, but I'm glad someone reported it. The code defines gang activity as involving 3 or more students, so I guess that's why Mr. Grisdale called it that. I think this is more along the lines of a Columbine type incident than what I would consider typical gang activity.

sickofit,

I agree that this situation and these kids need to be monitored. Maybe the district could start some kind of anti-gang task force (they won't call it that!) to educate people about this element in our community and try to find ways to involve parents, students, etc. in combatting this.

INJ -That is why I stated that the school should deliver punishment to address the threats, which may be more severe than ISS if the threat is to harm people and use weapons. For goodness sakes, just a few years ago schools were expelling elementary school kids for drawing pictures of guns. These are high school kids and they should know better and realize the consequences. What happens next time?

I am still wondering what really happened. Seems like there are several stories, rumors being passed around. How do we as MRHS parents find out the truth??? We have a right to know and seems like it should be a public record somewhere.