Perth Amboy hold first school board meeting since 11-year-old boy's stabbing
PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey (WABC) -- The Perth Amboy Public Schools District held its first board of education meeting since an 11-year-old student was stabbed.
The superintendent of schools tried his tried his best to deflect from the stabbing that left of one of his students in the hospital last month.
But parents weren't buying it, and some thought the superintendent's vision of Perth Amboy schools filled with safe, joyful students was not altogether accurate.
Last week, the school district sent a letter to parents, promising changes after the stabbing.
The district is proposing several recommendations to the board of education, including bringing in armed guards, metal detectors, and backpack searches.
However, some parents are uncomfortable with those changes and they made that clear on Thursday night. But the schools have already hired some armed guards and the budget calls for more to be hired.
Perth Amboy High School students walked out of classes last Monday and another protest was held outside City Hall.
While the stabbing happened off campus, authorities say it was the result of an argument that happened earlier in the day at school.
Authorities say 11-year-old Smailyn was stabbed on Johnstone Street last month as students were walking home from Samuel Shull Middle School.
The victim's father, Juan Jimenez, tells us his son was followed home and this attack was unprovoked.
Investigators say the suspect is also an 11-year-old boy. He is charged with juvenile delinquency crimes and is being held at the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center.
Jimenez says his son was stabbed twice in the abdomen and underwent surgery.
The city, the police department, and the school district sent a statement condemning the stabbing and said that they continue to work together to prevent and respond to acts of violence involving anyone in the school district.
WATCH | Sade Baderinwa hosts UN's observance of International Women's Day
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
