‘Fleming is not a bad school. We’ve just had bad luck.’ : Traumatized School on the Mend

Though only a few miles from some tough Los Angeles neighborhoods where crime, gangs and other big-city problems are common, Fleming Junior High in Lomita is the kind of place where nothing ever happened.

But in the last 15 months, students have been traumatized by a rape and two shootings--one student was killed, another wounded--as well as the unexpected death of their principal. Fleming administrators cannot recall as turbulent a period in the school’s 32-year history.

The litany of tragic events began in November, 1987, with a ninth-grade “ditch” party, when about 25 teen-agers--many of them older students from other schools--cut classes and went to the home of a Fleming student while his parents were away. The alcohol-fueled party ended with the gang rape of a 15-year-old female Fleming student. Three high school students were charged with rape or attempted rape, and two Fleming students were arrested on suspicion of rape but were not charged. The victim eventually transferred to another school.

Last October, 15-year-old Fleming student Cesar Chavez was shot to death in a gang-related drive-by shooting in Compton. Although the incident occurred off-campus, students were devastated by the death of their classmate.

Then, on Feb. 23, Adam Mendoza, a ninth-grade student and reputed gang member, was shot and injured on campus. Police said the 16-year-old student flashed gang hand signs at passengers in a passing car, who fired at least five shots at Mendoza, striking him once in the shoulder.

The Mendoza shooting happened only just days after students and faculty were shocked by the sudden loss of the school’s principal, Patrick Cragin. The lanky 6-foot, 11-inch administrator died at age 48 of a heart attack he suffered while watching his daughter play in a volleyball game in Nevada.

School administrators and faculty members, including counselors and the staff psychologist, have rallied to help Fleming’s 1,350 students cope with the crises.

‘We’ve Just Had Bad Luck’

“It’s like so much to bear all in one year,” said ninth-grader Vashia Rhone, 14. “Fleming is not a bad school. We’ve just had bad luck.”

The incidents, in particular the sudden deaths of Cragin and Chavez, left students shocked and disbelieving, administrators said.

On the day of Chavez’s funeral, dozens of students got permission to leave campus and attend the funeral Mass across the street at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. Many students donated money to help his family pay funeral expenses.

Some students at first refused to accept the principal’s death, said Assistant Principal Don Wilson. “There was almost disbelief that he was here that Friday and was gone that Tuesday,” he said. “A student came up to me and said he didn’t believe it. He said, ‘I know you’re joking.’ ”

After Cragin’s death, “students were very sad,” said Assistant Principal Constance Rupert. “They still come into the office and ask if he’s really dead.”

“It was like it wasn’t real,” said ninth-grader Jennifer Skoda.

The concept of death “really isn’t real” for many junior high-age students, but students are gradually coming to accept it, said school psychologist Shamim Ibrahim, who counseled some students after the deaths.

After the shooting last month, “we had some boys and girls who were crying,” Ibrahim said. “Mostly the students were concerned for his (Mendoza’s) safety, whether he lived, whether he was seriously injured.”

Some students fear the violence they have heard about in other areas is encroaching on Lomita, and on their school.

“It was shocking,” said Ivy Walker, 13, “because it’s the kind of thing that happens at other schools.”

“It’s just spreading,” said student body President Craig Valenzuela, 15. “I don’t think you’re afraid until it happens right in front of you.”

Parent Jeff Baker, president of the School-Community Advisory Council, said most parents are aware that some Fleming students are gang members.

Most Fleming students come from feeder schools in Lomita, Harbor City and Torrance, including Eshelman Avenue Elementary in Lomita, Harbor City Elementary School and Halldale Avenue Elementary and Meyler Street Elementary, both in Torrance, Fleming officials said.

After last month’s on-campus shooting, parent concern for their children’s safety has increased, said Baker, who graduated from Fleming in 1971 and has a son in the seventh grade there.

Nearby gang activity “does spill over, although the immediate area around the school is basically a quiet neighborhood,” Baker said. The potential for violence, he said, “is one of those things a lot of Fleming parents didn’t put a lot of thought into until it happened.”

Although the school does not have an on-campus guard, Fleming parents may request such security in light of last month’s shooting, Baker said.

“We feel the incident couldn’t have been prevented by having campus security, but it could have aided in apprehending someone faster,” Baker said. Los Angeles Unified School District police arrested a reputed gang member the day of the shooting on suspicion of attempted murder.

New Principal

Fleming’s new principal is James Marshall, formerly assistant principal in charge of discipline and security at Steven White Junior High in Carson.

During an interview on his first day at Fleming last Thursday, Marshall and other administrators discussed security changes at the school. One new rule prohibits students from lingering on Fleming’s front lawn before and after school, administrators said.

Students also are no longer allowed near the playground fence during physical education. That is where gang hand signs were exchanged last week between students on campus and passengers in a black car from which the shots were later fired at Mendoza.

Administrators will increase campus patrols, using portable radios, and they will continue to enforce dress codes prohibiting gang clothing and colors, Marshall said.

“Our schools are safe and we’ll take whatever measures necessary to keep them that way,” Marshall said.

At least one student concerned about his safety has requested a transfer. Such requests will be handled “on a case-by-case basis,” Marshall said.

But other students said they are not fearful and hope the trauma is over.

The school’s flag had been flown at half-staff since Cragin’s death. When students arrived at school on Monday “the flag was at full mast again,” said Vashia Rhone. “It was like a cloud had lifted.”