Katy ISD is facing criticism after a fight at Taylor High School, where a male student was seen in a viral video launching an unprovoked attack on a female student. During a school board meeting on Monday, parents voiced their frustration with the district’s approach to self-defense. Both students were suspended, as reported by KHOU.
Citing a KHOU report, one parent noted the importance of the video evidence in shedding light on the situation, "If that video didn't exist, these administrators wouldn't be here facing tough questions from all of us," they said. "Our children deserve better." Despite these calls for clarity, the board did not move to take formal action at the time.
Meanwhile, the Houston Chronicle provided more context on the incident which led to public outcry. The student affairs director for Katy ISD recounted the district's policy which punishes any students involved in physical fights, even those claiming to act in self-defense. This policy is now under the microscope as the board of trustees begins considering adjustments in light of recent events.
Katy ISD board president Victor Perez acknowledged the need for potential policy tweaking in a Facebook post and during the board meeting, though the details of these adjustments have yet to be clearly defined. Sherry Ashorn, the district’s director of Student Affairs, explained the current stance, "If you are confronted from another student, you should avoid from striking back," she said. The policies in place do not currently establish a right for students to fight back even if they are under attack, as obtained by Houston Chronicle.
In the aftermath, Danny Gianfrancesco, who identified himself as the father of the female student, revealed his daughter suffered a concussion from the assault. He was met with resistance when attempting to provide the video evidence to school officials. "She wouldn’t even look at it," Gianfrancesco told the Houston Chronicle. In response to the district's stance on self-defense and the treatment of his daughter, he publicly questioned the safety of the school environment.
