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Teachers, parents and principals press Phoenix Union board for more school safety after campus assault; Bostrom pilot cited as working
Summary
Following a campus assault at Betty Fairfax High School and mixed public comment, teachers, parents and a Bostrom principal urged the Phoenix Union board to adopt advanced weapons‑detection systems and additional safety measures; several presenters said pilots reduced dangerous items on campus.
Community members and educators pressed the Phoenix Union governing board on Jan. 9 to take swifter action on campus safety after several public commenters described recent incidents and ongoing concerns.
Daniel Langdorf, a teacher at Betty Fairfax High School, recounted a recent attack in which a suspect scaled a fence, assaulted a student and the principal and fled. "I warned you that the cost of inaction would be blood," Langdorf told the board, urging immediate use of grants for school security officers (SSOs) and broader safety upgrades.
At the same time, the principal of Bostrom High School, who described piloting an advanced weapons‑detection system, told the board the pilot "worked," reporting that "weapons and dangerous items were significantly reduced on our campus" and emphasizing that the system had been implemented in a way staff and students described as minimally intrusive and equitable.
Teacher and safety team leader Zach Zipzer urged reconsideration of metal detectors and suggested pairing them with SROs, saying faculty and staff "wholeheartedly support using metal detectors" where evidence shows a benefit. Several speakers, including representatives of the district’s employee organizations, signaled support for weighing pilot results when making a districtwide decision.
Board members requested follow‑up information from the superintendent. Superintendent Andrade and staff did not make a districtwide decision during the meeting; the board’s public‑comment session concluded with requests that the superintendent investigate options, expedite any eligible grants and report back.
The meeting also included related personnel and communication complaints from parents about an absent teacher at Cesar Chavez High School and calls for clearer district communication on staffing and interim instructional plans while personnel matters are resolved.
The board did not take an immediate formal action to require districtwide deployment of weapons detection systems during the meeting; instead, members asked staff to investigate, report grant possibilities and provide additional information to inform future action.
