Brutal fight part of history of violence at Dallas Ranch Middle School

By John Crowder

A brutal fight at Dallas Ranch Middle School last week between two 8th grade girls was caught on a student’s cell phone and the video made its way to the internet and to Bay Area news station KRON, channel 4, which has run several segments on the story.

In the video, (which can be viewed by clicking here) one of the girls gets the other down to the ground, and then uses her boot to smash her head into the concrete walkway. Other students can be seen on the video near the two fighters, using their cell phones to film the scuffle.

Since the story first aired, more parents have come forward complaining of fights occurring “every day” on the campus.

Dallas Ranch has a long history of violent incidents occurring on the campus. Last year, as reported in the Herald on different occasions, parents, students, and teachers addressed the Antioch School Board about violence at the school.

At the March 26th school board meeting, student Taylor Donaldson spoke about three P.E. teachers no longer teaching because of violent incidents.

I’m afraid our school is turning into a disaster,” he said.

At the January 22nd school board meeting, several staff members from DRMS addressed the board with concerns about student violence. At that time, two P.E. teachers vowed not to return to the school as long as a student who had physically attacked one of them was allowed to remain on campus. Following this most recent incident, teachers at the school are once again speaking up, saying they are afraid to go to work, and that they are continuing to be physically attacked by students.

A former teacher’s assistant, Kathy Arroyo, was featured on one of the Channel 4 segments discussing a two-year old incident at the school where she says she tried to intervene in a fight between students. She ended up in the hospital with her back having to be fused together. In the news segment she laments, “nothing’s changed.” Speaking to parents, she said, “There is violence at that school, and they have a right to be concerned.”

In response to this most recent incident, DRMS Principal Ed Dacus states that the two students involved in the incident were disciplined, and that, due to the nature of the matter, the Antioch Police Department was involved.

We were able to grab as many of the kid’s cell phones, and, trying to prevent this type of video getting out, because it does lead to cyberbullying,” he added.

Bob Sanchez, the school district’s Director of Student Support Services, also weighed in on the matter. He is quoted as saying that, in spite of the fight, Dallas Ranch is one of the best schools in the district. He also talked about steps being taken by the district to address the problem.

We are in the process of getting people to come and train us on certain issues like this,” he said.


7 Comments to “Brutal fight part of history of violence at Dallas Ranch Middle School”

  1. Reginald Jamal Brown says:

    Welcome to the ghetto!

  2. Dallas Ranch parent says:

    Dallas Ranch is not a safe environment. The girl was suspended for 2 days and is back on campus. These kids know they can get away with it, and they do! AUSD please do something!

    • elodia says:

      men these kids are nothing but trouble they egged my house messed up my garage door burned my kids clothes n etc.i hate living on the same street they on their fosterparents do nothing but look for them at everyones houses at 2’3 am i jate these kids but its their parents fault too

  3. movingoutofca says:

    It starts with the parents! Start holding the parents accountable. If their kids act out and they are on any govt asst. including housing, they should loose it. If they aren’t, then they should PAY FINES!

  4. Donna Johnson says:

    “We were able to grab as many of the kid’s cell phones, and, trying to prevent this type of video getting out, because it does lead to cyberbullying,” Ed Dacus.

    That’s a joke. It’s to prevent parents and local news from seeing it and embarrassing school administrators.

Leave a Reply to Reginald Jamal Brown