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Student Safety Paramount At King High

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2007

Your editorial, 'Shooting Case Raises Concerns About District's Credibility' (Our Opinion, Sept. 30), regarding safety at King High School recognized the improvements we have made on the campus. Like all our high schools, King High has worked to reduce misbehavior that interferes with learning. Principal Carla Bruning and her staff have done an exceptional job and the proof is in the dramatic reduction in incidents and in the academic achievement worthy of celebration.

I was present at the community meeting in Temple Terrace referred to in the editorial, and I have a long history as an administrator working with the community. I want to make sure comments made by me or school district staff at the meeting are not misunderstood.

The editorial dealt extensively with the issue of school safety, and focused on an incident nearly two years ago that occurred off campus.

Our first responsibility is for the safety of our students when they are at school or school functions. We are not the police, but we work closely with law enforcement to make sure our students are safe on and off campus.

We take appropriate responsibility for incidents related to our schools, regardless of where they occur. One of our students was killed in the 2005 incident, so it clearly had an impact on our students. We recognized that and took steps to ensure that we do everything we can to prevent violence on or off our campus.

We have evidence of success. Incidents of misbehavior decreased, and King High is developing a much-deserved reputation for academic excellence. King produced the most National Merit Scholar semifinalists of any school in the Tampa Bay area, and the most National Achievement Scholars in the state!

A recent news story regarding a teen arrested for selling drugs was in error when it said the young man was a King High student. The error was not the fault of your newspaper and the error was promptly corrected, but such news reports impact a school's reputation.

I have been the principal of two schools serving Temple Terrace students, and the area director for those schools. I have much invested in the students and citizens in the area. I appreciate the confidence they have extended to me, and work to ensure that every staff member and I earn that confidence every day.

Ken Otero is deputy superintendent of the Hillsborough County School District.

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