DOE, police investigate Science ‘fight club’

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The police and the Education Department are looking into fighting contests at the Bronx High School of Science, seeking to identify the students involved, investigate alleged threats and evaluate the school’s handling of the matter, officials said Tuesday.

The Education Department has been working closely with the NYPD and the school since last week to address the incidents and ensure that any students involved are held accountable, officials said.

The actions include identifying and taking disciplinary measures against students who took part in the alleged fights, investigating the Bronx Science school’s handling of fights that reportedly took place last year, enlisting the help of the NYPD to investigate threats that followed media reports about the fighting contests. Officials said they also plan to increase communication with educators, school administrators and students’ families.

The investigation was prompted by a New York Daily News report about bare-knuckled fights that took place at Bronx Science last year. Participants organized fighting contests through a private Facebook group and met for brawls at Harris Field, just south of the school, according to the report.

Following the publication, angry students left messages with threats against a Daily News reporter, also posting his home address and a photo of his residence online, the Daily News reported. Bronx Science principal Jean Donahue apologized for the threats made by students.

Bronx High School of Science, DOE, Department of Education, Jean Donahue, Lisa Herndon

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