The Trenton Times published the following article on June 11, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Trenton Central High students walk out in protest of poor building conditions
By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton
on June 11, 2013 at 2:16 PM, updated June 11, 2013 at 3:11 PMTRENTON — About 100 students at Trenton Central High School walked out of class in a protest this morning, complaining that years of promises to repair the dilapidated building have yet to be fulfilled.
“I don’t want it to be like this when my little brother and sister come here,” said Jada Bailey, 16.
Students said they had heard yesterday that the walkout, which had been planned for several days, had been canceled, but a few decided to protest anyway. The walkout started without about a dozen students gathered in front of the building and gradually grew.
By 10:30 a.m., about 100 students were outside chanting “Fix our school.”
Senior Rahkeim Crawford said one longtime issue has been leaks through the roof.
“When it rains outside, it rains inside,” said Crawford, 19.
Students said that water from faucets is discolored because of rust in the pipes, paint is peeling from the walls and ceilings and there are holes in the floor. Other problems include bad smells in the building and mold, they said.
“It doesn’t motivate us to do anything, to come to school,” 17-year-old Ana Gomez said.
Earlier this year, the state Schools Development Authority promised to spend $13.3 million on 18 urgent repairs for the 80-year-old building, but the district has yet to receive the funds.
Principal Marc Maurice and several vice principals came outside to try to encourage the students to go back inside and attend the rest of their classes. When they refused he asked them to come inside to have a discussion about the building issues.
Maurice said teachers at the school were advised by the Trenton Education Association, the district’s teacher’s union, not to walk out with the students. Several students said their teachers told them they feared they would be fired or punished if they participated in the protest.
Maurice, vice principals and a representative of Superintendent Francisco Duran will have a meeting on Thursday morning with several students to discuss the process of seeking funding for improvements and to hear students’ concerns about what needs to be fixed, the principal said.
“I work here every day so I know the conditions of the school,” Maurice said addressing the students. “We are in support of you. We want the school to get better.”