A 16-year-old boy was found shot to death in Montgomery last week. Less than a month earlier, a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged for the shooting death of a 17-year-old, and back in December, the Montgomery Police Department responded to at least one shooting involving minors.
Each case is a heart-wrenching example of a problem that’s plagued Montgomery for years: youth violence.
On Monday, Montgomery Public Schools acknowledged the impact of the issue on its students and announced a new conflict resolution program it’s launching, effective immediately.
“Naturally, with many things that happen in our community, as well as other communities around the nation, there are ways we can handle our situations much better, and our kids are going to be learning what those things might be,” MPS Superintendent Melvin Brown said.
Incorporating communication skills workshops, peer support groups and efforts to increase parent engagement, the initiative aims to provide students with the tools to peacefully resolve interpersonal disputes without escalation.