DETROIT – Community members gathered Monday as students returned to Gompers Elementary-Middle School following a violent stabbing on campus that prompted arrests and renewed calls for improved safety across Detroit Public Schools.
An assistant principal has been placed on administrative leave while the district continues an internal review into the incident, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti said.
The leave is part of a preliminary review into whether established safety protocols were followed on the day of the attack.
Last week, a student at Gompers was arrested after investigators said the child had violently attacked another student with a knife.
The accused student’s mother was also arrested; investigators allege she bypassed security, brought a weapon onto campus, and handed it to her daughter.
The security breach led district officials to cancel classes at Gompers for several days.
In a statement to families, Dr. Nikolai Vitti acknowledged the trauma the incident caused and said the situation represented one of his most difficult weeks as superintendent.
“This past week has been hard,” Dr. Vitti said. “It’s one of the hardest weeks I’ve definitely had as superintendent.”
Dr. Vitti said additional staff will be assigned to Gompers as part of immediate steps to bolster safety.
Measures include bringing on another assistant principal, three security guards, and an extra social worker.
The district is also reviewing leadership decisions at the campus level; a preliminary review prompted the administrative leave for one assistant principal while investigations continue.
“We definitely have safety procedures and protocols in place. Unfortunately, last week they weren’t followed.
The leadership team could have been more proactive in meeting with the parents, meeting with the kids, to de-escalate the tension. Our preliminary review has led one of the assistant principals to be put on administrative leave, pending an investigation. We’re continuing to review if protocols were followed.”
Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) Dr. Nikolai P. Vitti
Amid fear and frustration, many parents expressed relief at seeing a large community presence welcome students back to school.
The greeting — a coordinated “clap-in” — was organized by Detroit’s Task Force on Black Male Engagement and drew families, neighbors, and volunteers who wanted to show support and help create a calmer atmosphere.
“My heart was just like, I don’t want to send my kids back here. Honestly,” said parent Tarressa Neeley.
Seeing the community come together helped ease some of her anxiety.
“This is very good to know that they really do care. And they really are going to protect the safety of my kids,” Neeley said.
Parents and community leaders have pushed for accountability and preventative action since the incident.
Those calls reflect broader concerns: the school board has acknowledged that several campuses across the district faced safety and security issues in the past week.
DPSCD officials said they will continue the internal review and work with law enforcement on the criminal investigation.
The district’s immediate priorities are increasing on-site staff, reviewing security procedures, and expanding support resources for students and families affected by the incident.
District leaders and community members said they hope the increased presence of adults, both school staff and neighborhood volunteers, will help de-escalate tension and prevent future incidents.
The superintendent framed the efforts as part of a larger, district-wide push to move from reactive measures to more proactive, preventative strategies.
As investigators continue their work, the incident at Gompers has prompted a renewed conversation about school safety in Detroit — one that many parents and community members say they intend to stay involved in until families feel secure sending their children to school again.