Schenectady Community Unites After Tragic Student Death: A Call to Stop Violence!
The Schenectady City School District is urging the entire community to unite and end the recent violence that has deeply impacted the area.
This plea comes after the tragic death of a 15-year-old student, Dubar T. Knowles, a freshman at Schenectady High School, who was shot and killed at a house party on Congress Street.
Another victim, a 13-year-old student from Oneida Middle School, was also shot but is currently recovering in the hospital.
No arrests have been made as of now, and the Schenectady Police Department is asking anyone with information or video footage related to the incident to come forward and help in the investigation.
The community has been left in shock, and the police are working diligently to find those responsible.
Superintendent Carlos Cotto of the Schenectady City School District expressed his deep concern and urged the community to unite in finding solutions to stop the violence.
He emphasized that now is the time for action and that everyone in the community, from families to local organizations, needs to come together to reengage with the youth and provide support.
“We want to stop this violence, and we’ve got to find a way to do so,” Superintendent Cotto said. “My biggest plea to our community is, let’s come together. Let’s brainstorm and find ways to reengage some of our youth, as well as their families, to support them.”
Following the tragic event, Superintendent Cotto held meetings with district administrators and local police to discuss the next steps in addressing the violence. Ensuring students feel safe and supported, both inside and outside of school, has become a top priority.
The district is committed to offering resources and increasing engagement with students to help them cope with the aftermath of the shooting.
In response to the tragedy, Schenectady High School reopened on Tuesday with a noticeable increase in police presence, a measure that will continue for the rest of the week to help students feel secure.
Superintendent Cotto expressed that the focus is on understanding the decisions and choices made by students, both inside the school and in the broader community. The goal is to address the root causes of these decisions and offer support to prevent further incidents.
Outside the school, local organizations have stepped up to provide additional mental health support for students affected by the recent violence.
One of the key community partners is Ellis Medicine’s The Family Room, a mental health urgent care facility for kids aged 10 to 17.
The Family Room, which opened in February, offers walk-in services for families and children struggling with mental health issues. The center provides counseling, social services, and medical referrals to help those in need.
The Family Room’s Supervisor, Tori Daniels, emphasized the importance of community support in helping children heal.
“The more we can reach out and connect, the more healing can happen,” Daniels said. “Talking about things that are hard makes a community stronger, and we can’t do that without having supportive adults in the lives of these kids.”
Another organization offering help is Northern Rivers Behavioral Center. Amy DiRamio, the Chief of Northern Rivers Behavioral Health Services, highlighted the emotional toll the violence has had on students.
She encouraged open conversations and emphasized that it’s okay for kids to have feelings, no matter what they are. The center is focused on listening and providing emotional support to help students process their emotions and feel heard.
As part of their ongoing efforts to improve safety, the district has scheduled a safety fair at the high school for October 24th.
The fair will showcase various weapons detection technologies, allowing parents and students to better understand how the school is working to ensure their safety.
In addition, the school board recently approved the purchase of a new weapons detection system to enhance security measures further.
In these difficult times, the Schenectady community is coming together to combat violence and provide much-needed support for students and families.
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As Superintendent Cotto and other community leaders continue their efforts, the hope is that such tragedies can be prevented in the future through unity, understanding, and increased safety measures.