09/27/2026
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Barbara Mullen
Focus on Safety: Join Us at Two Events This Week
Dear Rush-Henrietta Community,
This past week was challenging in many ways at Rush-Henrietta Senior High School. I want to recap what happened and invite all interested community members to attend two events this week. I recognize the angst and fear many experienced at the high school and resolve to do better. We want to hear from you as we make improvements for the short term and future.
Opportunities to Provide Feedback
First, the Rush-Henrietta Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 29. This meeting will be held in the cafeteria at the Senior High School, 1799 Lehigh Station Road. In addition, the community is invited to a Safety Forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 30. This event also will be held at the Senior High School. Both meetings will be livestreamed. Details can be found later in this message.
Here is What Happened
This past Thursday, a fight inside the high school left one student injured. A handful of students arranged in advance for the altercation to occur during the school day. Someone not permitted to be in the building that day was let inside by a student and the fight ensued in a classroom. The scene was recorded and video was shared online. No question, it was disturbing to see.
Hold-in-Place Becomes a Lockdown
Staff initially placed the building in a hold-in-place, a move designed to keep students in their classrooms and out of the hallways while building security and or staff respond to the situation. Deputies from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office arrived on the scene, too. We are thankful for their support.
A staff member heard what sounded like a gunshot and moved the building into lockdown in an effort to further protect everyone inside. The Sheriff's Office has confirmed no shots were fired.
The lockdown lasted for about 40 minutes. Deputies began releasing individual classrooms from lockdown 15 minutes after it was initiated but the process takes time to complete to ensure it is done according to procedure. We know that the silence students and staff experienced contributed to the fear and worry they felt. However, our safety protocols prohibit using the public-address system during a lockdown.
Reflecting on the Aftermath
It wasn’t just one incident last week that left students and staff members unnerved. This was the second fight in two days at the high school. If your student is having a difficult time after the fight or lockdown,or after viewing the disturbing footage, please contact Joe Jackson, director of wellness and equity, at 359-5086 or [email protected]. Counselors will be available at the Senior High School all day Monday to meet with students.
Where Do We Go from Here?
On Friday, some students peacefully walked out during the last period of the day to make their voices heard. Members of the superintendent’s cabinet joined me at the high school to listen.
We will keep listening. We want to hear your concerns and perspectives.
With that in mind, the community is invited to attend the next Board of Education meeting and Safety Forum this week. If you are unable to be there, it will be livestreamed at rhnet.org/forum. (The link will become live on Wednesday.)
You are invited to submit questions in person but also in advance of the forum at rhnet.org/safetyquestions. The Board of Education meeting on Tuesday also will be livestreamed as usual at rhnet.org/liveboard.
On a related note, the district sent a phone call this past Thursday to inform families the school was in lockdown. When classes resumed, the all-clear was sent via email. In the future, when families are told via automated phone call about a lockdown, we will share via phone when the lockdown has ended.
I encourage everyone to continue providing feedback to us. I sincerely hope to see you this week as we continue this important conversation. As always, please also feel comfortable emailing me. I can be reached at [email protected]
Sincerely,
Dr. Barbara Mullen
Superintendent
