Dear New Rochelle Community,
I write to you with tremendous sadness as we mourn the loss of a young man from our New Rochelle community. I offer my condolences to the family and friends who are suffering the pain and shock of losing a loved one far too soon. My sympathies also go to all in our New Rochelle family who have known and shared in the life of this youth.
Violence has once again shaken our community, and perhaps reopened old wounds. An observation shared at our school board meeting last night was that this incident has cost two young lives, although in very different ways. We are also reminded of how interwoven our community is and commit to strengthening our safety net to catch those needing interventions to prevent such tragedies from happening in the first place. We have so much work to do.
As a school district, we are mobilizing our crisis and support teams to assist those who may struggle in trying to cope with the burden of this loss. And, even as we deploy our resources to help with grieving and healing, we see how we will redouble our efforts to identify those at risk and connect them with the services and supports that can set them on a path to success. This must be a community effort and we will come together with our partners to create what we must. We are privileged to academically, socially, and emotionally educate and develop the children of New Rochelle.
This moment is a time of reflection, for us to lean on each other, and to collaborate in making positive change for our community.
Sincerely,
Jonathan P. Raymond
Superintendent of Schools
The Superintendent’s statement comes two hours our “Profiles in Courage” commentary was posted on social media:
Profiles in Courage
Shooter is Tommy Rivera. He was in House 2 at New Rochelle High School but in and out of drug rehab. He did not often attend school.
Deceased is identified as Julian Oliveros, a classified (special ed student), he did attend school but did not often attend classes, he spent his days roaming the hallways.
New Rochelle administration is furiously paddling to distance the district from both kids — the victim and the shooter.
The backing away is actually an admission of failure.
They cannot get their story straight whether they were enrolled or not.
Attendance teachers (there are 4) should have been on these cases.
AND there is a substance abuse counselor assigned to NRHS.
AND School Security is responsible for kids roaming the hallway.
Everyone dropped the ball here but no one is taking responsibility.
Same as it ever was.
More here:
Shooting in New Rochelle’s West End – 7 Shots Fired; NRHS Student Shoots, Kills Another Student
And more here:
New Rochelle’s West End Teen Shooter Charged with Murder in First Court Appearance
Is it relevant that the kid was special needs? What is the intention of stating that the kid supposedly roamed the hallways and had little attendance?! Why discredit the deceased? (This might not even be true) Sources close to the family have stated that the kid was going to talk to-see his girlfriend that day at school. The other kid shot him. Now he’s gone and an entire community is shaken. There have been reports of multiple shootings in this area and safety is a major issue with this school. That’s what is needed to be talked about.
It is not “discrediting” anyone to say a student has a 504 or IEP. I appreciate you may not understand the significance of a student with an IEP not getting service and support they are entitled to under an IEP. It is a violation of the student’s civil rights. The people responsible for implementing his IEP messed up. That is the point.
I DONT THINK IS OK TO EXPOSED THE KIDS PRIVATE …… INFORMATION……..IF THEY SICK OR IF THEY HAVE ANY ADDICTION IS AGAINS THE LAW AND THEY ARE MINOR ….. WHAT KIND OF SCHOOL IS THIS …