School violence caught on camera at Coatesville Area High

COATESVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) -- A community activist tells Action News Coatesville Area High School has turned into a war zone, with brutal fights caught on camera.

Videos provided to Action News show a school in shambles. One brawl after another, kids beat up in the classrooms, lunchroom and halls.

"Some days there are like five to seven fights a day," said Vincent Tenore, 9th-grader. "It's just chaotic."

Off-camera, parents and teachers tell Action News this is a daily reality at the Coatesville school for freshmen and sophomores called the 9/10 Center.

Activist Alphonso Newsuan said, "We have security that aren't allowed to break up fights inside the school. We have police that are not allowed in the school unless they report to the superintendent."

Newsuan tells us the videos were provided to him by students and educators who are too afraid to talk on camera, but are now scared for their own safety.

"Teachers know that they will be either fired, they will be reprimanded, if they complain or try to have anybody suspended," said Newsuan. "They have quotas, and they are afraid, they are afraid for the job."

The videos, he says, are just a sample of the beatdowns that occurred this year.

"There has been a lot of violence going on," said Jaydren Comfort, 9th-grader.

We contacted the district superintendent, Dr. Cathy Taschner, multiple times on Wednesday.

By phone, she acknowledged the fights and disturbances will not be tolerated, and students will be disciplined swiftly, according to the code of conduct.

"Just a few days ago, there was a seven-versus-seven fight, and it was pretty crazy," said Joey Audette, 9th-grader.

The superintendent says they are adding security guards at the main campus. They've added four more security guards, and they're continuing to review their security protocol with the help of local law enforcement.