CHATHAM — Parents of students at Dixon Elementary said Thursday that after a seventh-grader was robbed while walking to school, the school needs a Safe Passage route.
“We don’t have a Safe Passage program right now,” said Fetina Dixon-Rush, a mother of children, 4, 6 and 9 years old. She said there hadn't been a need in the past because there are typically many parents in the area, but she thinks such a program would help.
“It’s kind of scary," she said of the incident.
Police have not made an arrest in the robbery, in which a man approached a group of students at 8 a.m. Monday and robbed one of them at gunpoint in the 8200 block of South Rhodes Avenue. The incident was one block from Dixon, at 8306 S. St. Lawrence Ave.
After school on Monday, at least three additional security officers could be seen monitoring the school grounds, parents picking up their children Thursday said.
“I noticed they beefed-up security [this week], and they’re making sure the kids do get home, but now it’s something to think about,” said Dixon-Rush, of Chatham.
A letter signed by the school Principal Sharon A. Dale was sent home with students, stating: “Parents, be aware, this morning a couple of our students were accosted as they came to school today. Please, we don’t want to alarm you, or the children, but we want you to be aware and take special precaution for the safety of our children.”
The letter also asked parents and guardians to encourage children to go directly home after school and to not stop at the “candy store or anywhere else” before or after school.
Chicago Public Schools officials and Dale did not respond to repeated requests for comment on the incident or whether the school should get a Safe Passage route like ones in place at 66 CPS schools. Such routes are designated paths to school that are manned by workers before and after school.
Joe Fox, the grandfather of a Dixon third-grader, said that he doesn’t think the neighborhood is safe, especially for children.
“I don’t really think it’s an area for kids to be walking in anyway, and I’m usually over here three days a week when I pick up my granddaughter,” said Fox, of Grand Crossing. “I always try to look out for kids walking back and forth."
Fox said that he’s not sure how the new security he saw will help ensure that something like Monday’s incident doesn’t happen again.
“I saw they had some security people walking around, and I don’t know how they’re working, but from what I see, all they’re doing is walking around the building, so I don’t really see how that’s going to help a whole lot either,” Fox said.
Brandon Davis said he makes sure he’s with his third-grade child every day, but he agrees that a Safe Passage program is needed.
“I think there should be a Safe Passage program at all schools, and [Dixon] needs better security or something. I mean, this is a grammar school, it’s not like it’s a high school where you know for the most part the kids fend for themselves,” he said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
