Mount Vernon High School says it plans to increase security to combat an uptick in violence this school year with three reported fights or incidents last week alone.

MVTHS Board President Matthew Flannigan told WMIX’s sister-station WDML news, the school has a “wonderful student body and the overwhelming majority of students do not cause any discipline problems.  However, we are not satisfied with the number of fights at mvths, and more needs to be done to try and limit discipline problems.”

Other measures the board has taken are to establish a Discipline Committee, and they are currently undergoing a full review and possible revision to the current discipline policies in the student handbook.

Flannigan also stated the board will be looking at additional measures to keep the school safe but said he could not elaborate at this time. If a parent or student has safety concerns they should contact interim Superintendent Marilyn Holt at 618-244-3700.