Salisbury High principal says students are safe despite fights, lockdowns

SALISBURY, N.C. — Salisbury High School has been inundated recently with fights and lockdowns.

School leaders said they are working to decrease student aggression after four fights at school in February and March.

The school has also been placed under code yellow lockdowns because of police investigations in the area.

Violence erupted months ago at a basketball game between Salisbury High School and North Rowan High School.

About two weeks after the fight, principal Luke Brown and assistant principal Michelle Taylor were suspended for several days.

Some parents have said that they don't think officials are effectively communicating with them about the school's problems.

Brown said that despite numerous lockdowns and fights this year, students are safe.

He said most threats are off campus, and that is what caused the lockdowns.

"West End has seen criminal activity, and we're right in the middle of it,” Brown said.

The school is looking for grant money to pay for a fence around the school and hire more school resource officers.

Brown also addressed rumors of fights in the school.

He said there are few.

Despite the controversy, he said he is pushing for more educational goals.

"There are numerous wonderful things, from raised SAT scores to the number of students going to college," Brown said.

Officials have recently been able to decrease fights at the school by up to 50 percent by having conversations with students and encouraging them to get adults involved, Brown said.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• 50 firefighters battle 2-alarm apartment fire in Dilworth
• North Carolina, U.S. square off over transgender rights
• Man accused of stabbing girlfriend 30 times in Gastonia
• Woman gets unexpected 9-foot alligator guest at SC home
• 9 Investigates Union County school bus issues

Cox Media Group