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Board hears report on May fights at Cranes Creek Middle School; administrators say incidents were disciplined but notification to board needs fixing
Summary
District leaders told the board that Cranes Creek Middle School had seven fights over a seven-day span in May 2025; administrators applied short‑term suspensions and requested additional school police, and the superintendent acknowledged a failure to notify the board promptly.
Moore County Schools leaders told the board Aug. 11 that Cranes Creek Middle School recorded seven fights between May 15 and May 21, 2025, and that administrators used short‑term suspensions and additional school‑police presence to address the incidents.
Deputy Superintendent Doctor Locklear reported that six of the seven incidents were linked to community events, and that in the 2024–25 year Cranes Creek recorded 25 fights total. Locklear said each May incident involved two students rather than large group altercations. "In most of those situations, they received the most severe short term suspension, which is 10 days," Locklear said.
Locklear told the board that Chief Hardy and the school resource officer requested additional school police officers at two points during the incidents — once during the string of fights and again when students returned from suspension — and that school leadership responded quickly. Interim Principal Charice Campbell and central office staff have reviewed student supervision patterns and plan to reduce morning congregation, use grab‑and‑go breakfast to limit gatherings, and stagger bus unloading so buses unload one at a time.
Board members questioned why the board had not been notified earlier; Locklear accepted responsibility for the communication failure and said staff will change procedures to ensure timely notification in future. He said much of the central office did have fragments of the information but that it did not reach his office before the meeting. Locklear also said principals will increase adult visibility during class transitions and use a "SmartPass" system to track students leaving classrooms to tighten supervision.
Board members praised administrators for decisive discipline but emphasized the need for prompt board notification when safety or behavioral spikes occur. Locklear said district leadership will review internal reporting to prevent future lapses and will emphasize visible supervision and communication with families.
