Since her arrival as superintendent for the Columbus Municipal School District this summer, Cherie Labat has taken pains to carefully craft and nurture the image the city’s schools present to the community.
Being a champion for the schools is a big part of the job.
But there is also another part of the job that sometimes requires honest and open appraisals of less-than-flattering realities.
This week, during a CMSD board meeting, Labat acknowledged the signs of a budding gang issue in the district, something that under other leadership might have been addressed behind the scenes. She also briefed the board on how she intends to address those issues by working with the Columbus Police Department to provide mentoring geared to curbing this trend before it becomes a crisis.
To date, the signs Labat has seen in the district are small infractions, mostly involving the dress code. According to CPD Chief Fred Shelton, Louis Vuitton clothing is associated with the Vice Lords while Georgia Bulldog apparel is linked to the Gangster Disciples.
The CMSD and CPD look at all this from somewhat different perspectives. CMSD sees gang associations in its schools as an issue to deal with. For the CPD, the issue is not gang membership, which is not in itself illegal, but gang activity, which is illegal.
It would have been easy enough for the CPD to shrug their shoulders when approached by the school district over the matter.
Likewise, it would have been easy enough for the CMSD to address the issue without outside help (or exposure).
That the two entities understand the vested interest shared by this matter shows a maturity of vision that may ultimately benefit the schools and law enforcement alike.
Our schools should be sanctuaries, not breeding grounds.
Where gang presence is, gang activity must surely follow.
For many students, it’s a matter of making sure being “gang curious” doesn’t evolve into being active gang members, and any efforts to interrupt that progression will help keep a lid on whatever potential gang activity might follow.
The best way to quit smoking is to never start. That same theory holds true here.
We applaud Labat’s clear-eyed approach to this potential problem as well as Chief Shelton’s cooperation in providing the resources needed to stop it.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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