KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, LouisianaReassuring Safety at S.J. Welsh Middle School

Reassuring Safety at S.J. Welsh Middle School

Reported By: Lee Peck

Three students at S.J. Welsh Middle School are up for expulsion after another student turned them in for allegedly packing two pistols to school on Monday. The teens, two thirteen year olds and a fifteen year old, were arrested Wednesday and charged with illegal possession of by a juvenile and possessing firearms in a firearm free zone.

As they waited Thursday to pick up their students, parents say they're still finding it all too hard to believe.  

"It was kind of scary when I heard about it," said Mary Chaisson. 

"You see this all the time at different schools and nobody thinks it will happen at their school. So I think they need to crackdown on it," said Cheri Lloyd. 

Launching a full investigation, S.J. Welsh's faculty has been proactive in working with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office. Thursday S.J. Welsh Principal Buzz Sarver met with faculty and the schools 1300 students to reassure them of their safety. He also reminded them there's no room for crime in their school.

"Again, I am so proud of the student who came forward and alerted the staff. That's what we've been telling them to do... and it's good to see it working," said Calcasieu Schools Superintendent Wayne Savoy. "Today the principal let the students know that it is their responsibility and encouraged them that when something like this happens and they know about it, that teachers need to know about it -- so we can act and do the right thing and do what we're supposed to do." 

While it's known as one of the safest schools in Calcasieu Parish, there are plans to make S.J. Welsh even safer. Principal Sarver tells 7 News they're set to install more than 55 security cameras in the school. But that's not all, Superintendent Savoy says they'll also have access to patrol dogs for random checks.

"The dogs will react to a car or truck or anything or a locker for example that may have any kind of contraband in it or any kind of a weapon or anything inside," said Savoy. 

When told about the new measures, parents say you can never be too aggressive when it comes to school safety. 

"I think it's good for the school. I really think it will help," said Chaisson. 

"I think it would help, you can keep a better eye on the kids that are attending the school and also the kids that are doing things they shouldn't be doing at school. You know, in my opinion... I think that would help a lot," said Lloyd. 

We're told those security cameras will be installed some time after the Christmas holidays. Again the school has recommended that all three students involved in Monday's incident be expelled. No word yet on when that hearing will take place.