Security, behavioral interventions curb fighting at Markham Woods Middle

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — School leaders at Markham Woods Middle School in Seminole County say fights have decreased tremendously since the first few months of school thanks to increased security and behavioral intervention efforts.

The school saw an increase in fights when students returned to face-to-face learning at the beginning of the school year. Officials said there were 25 fights within the first few months of school, almost equal to the entire 2019 school year.

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After winter break, the district brought in reinforcements to help with the issues at the school.

Since then, school officials said the fights have stopped for the most part.

READ: Seminole County to add more staff to address increased fights at Markham Woods Middle School

Markham Woods Principal Craig Johnson said he appreciates the help the district brought in for his school as well as the help from the community and the sheriff’s office.

Johnson said most of the issues were a product of returning to all in-person learning in 2021. The fights stemmed from new students interacting with others.

READ: Some Seminole County schools seeing increase in fights breaking out

“You know, I think having that all come back together at one time, just resulted in students not really remembering how to live peacefully together,” Johnson said.

The district took action, hiring Patrice Anderson as the school’s new behavioral interventionist working with students before they make a bad decision.

Besides the school resource officers, there are two new permanent security guards on campus and a second dean to add another pair of eyes to the campus.

READ: Seminole County School District taking steps to reduce fighting among students

Johnson said since those efforts started, the fighting has gone down drastically.

“Oh, it has been really almost a 180 since the first half of the year, it’s really impressive,” Johnson said. “And then now we’re back to just normal middle school.”

VIDEO: Seminole County to add more staff to address increased fights at Markham Woods Middle School The Seminole County School Board had a safety and security meeting behind closed doors with the sheriff’s office to discuss the fighting at Markham Woods Middle

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