Large amount of daily fights among students overwhelm JCPS high school staff

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The school year is just getting underway at Doss High School and fighting has become almost a daily way of life, to the point some staff members don't feel safe coming to work.

Earlier this week WDRB was told 10-12 fights occurred at Doss.

There's an Instagram page dedicated to the fights and there are plenty of videos. Earlier this week a fight in the cafeteria almost overwhelmed the staff.

DOSS HS FIGHTS (2).jpeg — Staff at Doss High School are overwhelmed by how many fights happen on a daily basis.

“They are extremely violent," a Doss High School staff member said. "It is like a third world country breaking loose, it is like chaos like I have never seen.”

The staff member that spoke to WDRB said gang or neighborhood issues are the fuel behind these fights.

WDRB was told the school boundary lines changed bringing kids from competing neighborhoods into one building.

“It is a safety factor, one for the school and the staff it is extremely dangerous," a staff member said. "You only have so many people helping to keep the school under control and we don't have enough and it is making it dangerous for everybody. It is just unbelievable that it is so out of control."

The students fighting are a small percentage of the students. WDRB was told the same students are fighting day in and day out. Some are suspended but once they get back into school, they go right back to using their fists to settle arguments.

“It is the same rotation of kids," a staff member said. "Well, there is a number of things from somebody said something about me. Somebody sent the gang signs, it could be several things why, it could be so many reasons who. Something sparked and they are going at it."

The fights are broken up by a handful of staff and the kids are documenting all or most of the fights on social media for everyone to see.

WDRB was told at least one staff member was injured breaking up a fight in the cafeteria. The school sent a note to parents acknowledging a few fights and said security was increased at the school.

“They need to get a handle on this, they need to implement some safety precautions for the kids and the staff," a staff member said.

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