As a "proud" alum of DHS/PRHS c/o 1997, it warms my heart to see nothing has changed since my days at the old stomping grounds. Racial throwdowns used to happen every other year or so, going back to when my older brother was a DHS student during its opening year.

Regardless its just stupid kids being stupid kids...and in the case a moron adult lowered himself to their level and beat the bejejus out of a minor.

And events like these make me thankful that I left this fetid town of jerks and mouth-breathers that I grew up in as soon as I turned 18...

I think think this is the biggest overdramatization of an overplayed altercation. High school students fight. I've seen whites attack whites, blacks attack blacks, and everything in between. To say this is a race war is pure stupidity. I mean, come on, don't you all think if there were a real race war it would branch out to more kids than this group?? Everyone who says it is and says they are involved is just riding the coat tails to look cool. It's high school, that's what high school kids do. It's an issue that has escalated among family members. But due to rumors, and an article that is biased and unsubstantiated, the school is forced to waste precious recources to protect the children. Now panic and paranoia, and let's not forget hype, is setting in and the stage is set for a real race war. Way to go, truly good reporting. I feel sorry for the schmucks who believe this is about race, and can't see it for the ploy it really is, to help a struggling newspaper sell some extra copies.

I walk the halls of Deltona High school.I am a sophmore there and I feel no threat there.My group is big but we dont cause any problems.And if you ask us the fight is none of our concern.we are not parts of it..we got all types of people in our group.we are not ones that fight eachother.but if my friend was in it i would pull them out.and if they went back in.forget it i will not be talking to them.its not the attention of the student that they are looking for.its the past of most of their lives and them wanting to get even.Its not worth it.I care about everyone in deltona high we are a family.And some of the problems are from the parents of the students they are fighting and getting devorced and that adds more to the kids.and it causes them to act out.not jail or a childrens home can fix that.only the parents can.by sitting with their kids and listning to them.and stop fighting in frount of the kids.

you guys are bored... this always happens in a small town.

The big problem is that people need to stop raising their children up to believe that they are superior to anyone it will get them beat up time after time. Everyone from this point on- just promise to teach your kid to be tolerant and respectful. As parents that is our responsibility, you do your job, I'll do mine lets count on each other for that much at least.

Look, when I was younger these same kind of problems happened in my HS in S. Lake County, not far from here, Back in the 90's- until the rednecks realized that it was a new day (aka not the 1950's) and they quickly realized that getting beat up hurt. Then, eventually, everybody started screwing everyone. Eventually we will all be the same color. so Make Love Not War. Besides the corporations love it when we are fighing because it gets us off their back.

The real war is not a race war that is the diversion.

And its a good one.

The real war is the class war that the banks and the super rich have unleashed on us. Look at the foreclosures and the people out of work- stop fighting each other and start uniting against the corporations looking to sell you out for a bigger boat! Resist the temptation to self destruct and fight the military and prison industrial complex instead!

PS FYI I am Native And Spanish mixed (BROWN)and After HS I hooked up with an Irish girl and our son is beautiful and in a few more years when he is old enough to start dating he will probably be the apple of your daughters eye, no matter what color it happens to be.

I walk the halls of Deltona High School as a freshman. And I personally don't feel safe at that school. Just like everyone is saying, there were at least 15 cops on campus. I walk to school, and trust me, I counted every single one of them. Mr. Marks announced that students would no longer stand in a huge group, but did that happen? NO!! People still stand in a group, and nowadays, they are bigger than before. I know that my mom isn't concerned about my safety, but I sure the heck am. I want to go to school, I want to learn, and I want to make something of myself, but how can I do that worrying if I am going to be able to come home. And for the teachers who are commenting on this, you are just absolutely uncalled for.. You don't know a thing. You don't know what goes on in the halls of DHS, trust the students. We talk them. We're the ones that have to listen to every single thing a student says, and walk around every student wondering if something is going to happen. We're the ones who have to walk around huge groups of people while the administration is doing nothing but standing around. Yes, some action has been done, but not enough. There are still fights on our campus. It isn't over. Just like someone else said, what if it does get quiet, and all the cops leave... how do we know something isn't going to happen. That is then when all of the bad stuff is going to happen. How would the school feel if they had to identify their child's body in the morgue, and have to watch as their very own child gets buried 6 feet under. I know I wouldn't want it. So please just take a frigging stand and take control over the school. I mean, no student or parent should have to deal with this. This behavior is totally unacceptable, and it wont be tolerated. But.. Do the teachers and administration actually know what is going on? By this story, I find that they don't. I truly pray that the teachers on here, and some other people just grow a heart. Love someone, and believe that there is something greater than yourself. Conceitedness doesn't get you far, either does racism. We cant choose what color we are. We cant choose what we look like, and this atrocious behavior severely does tick a lot of us students off. Please think before you act.

To the concerned parent below...THANK YOU for taking the time dig into the facts on this story. I read way too many comments where people assumed a 40ish year old man had beaten a 19 year old kid. I have news for all of you; 19 is a legal adult. He may act like he is still in high school however the real world kicks in at 18 years old. I live very close to this neighborhood and if this were my kids getting picked on by a 19 year old ADULT then I would have probably stepped in as well.

I am a concerned parent of 2 students at this school, additionally I have previously made a living as a journalist. I understand how rumors get started and esclate out of control. As a result, I have conducted my own investigation regarding the "flagpole" beating, here is what I uncovered: 1) the police recovered the flag and the flag pole and found absoutely NO blood on it (ironically the man Rapheal who claims he was beat with the flagpole appeared to have many open wounds on his face and eyes which would have resulted in some sort of DNA/blood transfer onto the pole, and there was NONE 2) there were at least 4 calls to police regarding these two families within the last few weeks and altercations between teenage boys from both of them,(both families have boys that are minors and both have boys that are just of legal age). I have uncovered that ALL the calls made for police assistance originated from the family being accused of the "flagpole" beating. After reading these reports it is my summation (as verified through the police reports)the problem began with the two young men of legal age from both families. The first police report clearly indicated that the young man by the name of Rapheal(man who was beaten on Feb 5th) and another young man attacked the eldest son of the man acused of beating Rapheal. This is where the disagreement between the two families esclated to include the younger family members as well as the dad.3) ALL of the other police reports indicate that the childern of the man being accused of beating Rapheal where the intended targets of beatings and threats not the other way around

So here is my summation: I professionally doubt that this was ever racial although it is easy to make it seem racial based on the presence of the flagpole and the flag. Every time the word "racial" or "racist" come into any situation people tend to run with it without gathering and viewing the FACTS first. I personally think this father had enough of seeing his sons attacked on numerous occasions and calling the police for assistance and having them "blowing it off as minor childish disagreements" It appears that Rapheal unfortunately decided to continue to verbally challenge the father therefore esclating once again into a physical altercation between 2 MEN Unfortunately for Rapheal, (who once again is an adult) he picked the wrong person to confront and possibly underestimated the strength and anger of a 40+ish father trying to protect his family. Do I agree with the final result of this matter (the physical altercation) NO, but after reviewing the police reports as a parent I do understand how any parent would feel compelled to protect their family, especially after calls to the police for assistance went unresolved.

Please Volusia County, give Deltona to Seminole county.

This is to Amy, First of all the school did notified all the parents. I personally received over three different phone calls to let everyone know what was going on. You need a message machine or make sure the school has the correct phone numbers to reach you. As for Mr. Marks he is doing a great job keeping the kids safe. Maybe all this trouble starts at home if the parents taught their kids the right things in life maybe this wouldn't be happening.

As a parent I am upset that the high school will call me over a club meeting being canceled or something stupid but do not notify me when there is something serious going on. If the school wants to stop all the misinformation then they need to notify the parents of what is going on. This principle is acting like an idiot and needs to do his job.

To: This is not a racist family-

The story that you are telling is correct in that these kids knew each other and spoke before is true, but that this was not a hate crime you are INCORRECT. There were numerous neighbors that do not know the boys that told the same story based on WHAT THEY SAW... So what? These neighbors lied? I don't think so. No matter what your opinion is... THIS WAS A 41 YEAR OLD MAN WHO COULD'VE KILLED RAPHAEL. I suppose that's ok? Would it be alright if it were your child? Kyle, did not start the fights at school. He simply defended himself when the 16 year old came at him without even expecting it. You need to stay out of this because its conflict of interest. The 19 yr old has been beating up kids in the neighborhood? Since when? And how many? I've known him for very long and I know him very personally and trust me he's not at what you think. And despite what you say or what anyone says.. this man Kenneth deserves jail time for attempted murder- he's not a teenage boy- he's a stepfather who should be an example not act like thug or let alone do something that MAKES HIM LOOK ABSOLUTELY RACIST (if he isn't) HE BEAT A KID UP WITH A POLE and his sweet innocent or NOT SO INNOCENT SON just walks away happily waving the flag that still dripped Raphael's blood. This family that underwent this situation Friday night did not provoke the other family they just assumed that the Cuban brother's had something to do with what was happening to the 16yr old based on information from 3rd parties who didn't know anything. Do you know what goes on at schools? Parents don't imagine what goes on and how there precious kids really act... that 16yr old got himself into these predicaments due to provoking the other children that were already worked up with the RACE THING..not so smart.

So now that nothing happened Friday will everyone come back to school or will they say that its still to dangerous? I get that parents feel compelled to protect their children but this thing is rumor is getting out of control. Its starting to limit what we can teach and how we can plan because so many students are missing. Come back and lets move forward and stop panicking if there was a legit threat Mr. Marks would not endanger the student body nor the would the rest of us teacher.

I would like to express to everyone that this has nothing to do with RACE. I have known this family for years and these boys’ two best friends are Black & Hispanic. The person who wrote "The Real Hate Crime Story" was best friends with this family for 5 to 6 years. He would spend the night and ate at their dinner table numerous times. So if this were a Race issue why would he have been at their home?

Now, lets get into what had led up to this sad & awful situation. About a month ago, the 19 year old that was involved in the fight Friday night jumped & beat up the brother of the 16 year old that was arrested. A police report was made at that time. This is not the first time that the 19 year old has beat kids in their neighborhood.

The young man who wrote "The Hate Crime Story" which is the 19 year olds brother had been harassing the 16-year-old boy (the boy that was arrested) in school & in the neighborhood. He had told him to stop and he didn't. The 16 year old had enough and punched the kid in school. Which he now knows & admits that it was wrong.

The one that wrote the "Hate Crime Story" was going around and started the rumor that this family is "Racist" and that started numerous kids attacking & beating the 16 year old at the bus stop. This happened two times in two days and both times a police report was made.

The 16-year-old boy was in school the following day and a group of boys had thrown a bottle and hit him in the head. He in turn picked up the bottle and threw it back and it hit one of the boys and they all attacked him. He was taken to the hospital and had severely bruised ribs and a huge lump on his head. He was suspended from school again. This was all on video and it shows the boys threw the bottle first. Another police report was filed.

When the 16 year old returned to school after the suspension, groups of kids would tell him that this was not over and he better look out. He heard rumors that someone was going to bring a gun to school and shoot a white male. He was not comfortable being at school after hearing this and did not want to risk his life or some innocent person, so he decided to leave Deltona High School.

Friday night, the 19 year old was outside saying "Your kid is a ***** he was too scared to stay in school and that this is not over. The story that they told to the news is not how it all happened. The 16 year old that was arrested, was in his home at the time when he heard screaming and ran out to find the two brothers on top of the other person involved. He was not in the truck like the story states. There are numerous statements in their story that are incorrect

This has escalated to this because the one, who wrote "The Hate Crime Story" started the rumor and all of the kids fighting, It's funny how he made sure he was never around when everything happened.

The mother of the 16 year old had went to talk to the parents to ask them to put an end to all of this and the father told her "What do you want me to do? I don't have any control over it".

Come on boys lets put an end to all of this insanity and get back to the nice neighborhood you had. You are the ones that can make it a safe place at home & at school for the smaller children in your area. What are you teaching them? There is enough violence in this world; you don't need it at home.

Again, this situation has nothing to do with race so stop claiming it does. This family is not racist and is just trying to protect their children from the attacks on them. All they are asking for is this to stop!

Thanks Beacon, for printing what I've always known to be the truth about your "not fit to put under my birds" newspaper. If it's bad news About Deltona High - you print it. If it's good news about DeLand High - you print it.

I'm sure you wont mention the over 2,000 students that attend Deltona High every day, succeed, get good grades, enjoy extracurricular activities...Nope! Not the Beacon. Let's focus on the 100???maybe students that cause trouble. Because DeLand has this magic halo of innocence

If you all REALLY want to know whats going on, well then here it is.

this race war is REAL PEOPLE! its been going on for the past few weeks now, and people aren't getting a good enough insight as to why so many rumors are going around.

Three weeks ago, i was involved in an altercation where i was jumped during my first lunch. The student hit me in the face and I turned in defense and beat him.

From this fight, the events of the next couple of weeks escalated quickly. The same kid that jumped me was perceived as a "redneck". On monday, He threatened to beat me with a bat as soon as i got off the bus. Out of nowhere he was jumped by two guys that got off my bus, one being black and the other being puerto rican. i had no partake in any physical activity.

Tuesday he was jumped again at my bus stop for reportedly "talkin ****" about kids in school. this time there were quite a few more people involved (about 10 other kids), all being of ethnic minorities. I was not there because i was picked up from school, trying to avoid any further altercations with him and his family.

Wednesday, he was jumped a third time by 4-5 african american kids at the end of first lunch for throwing a water bottle at them. he was sent home with bruised ribs, and the kids were all suspended.

Thursday is when all of the fights started breaking out. there were over 6 fights in school that day. At the end of the day i walked out of my 7th period class, and looked to my left to see a HUGE race war beginning. over 200 kids were involved. It looked as if the crowd was resembling a ying-yang sign from the seperation of skin color between the people in the crowd. (rednecks vs blacks and hispanics)

i witnessed a black kid and a white kid (in camo clothing) fighting. i was suprised to see that i knew both kids.

Now being acquainted with students from both sides of racial ethnicity puts me in a state to where i feel threatened that I might get jumped for "hanging with the wrong crowd"

I've stayed out of any further school related activities that were involved with the race war. but YES there WERE arrests for weapons on school. dont try to cover up the truth. Mr. Marks is a great principal, but everyone needs to know the severity of this situation. just because you have a couple cops at the school doesn't mean that things cant get outta hand. for example, friday morning, 3 black students WAITED for a white student to get off the bus because he was a "redneck" and chased him down. now do you seriously think that there were going to be NO further problems for the rest of the day? WRONG

NOW, last night (friday night) is where things were taken TOO far and PROOF that this "race war" is real.

if you scroll down to the entry that is titled "hate crime" you will recognize a very similar story. My two brothers (one 19, the other 15) were jumped last night by the kid that i had been having problems with this whole time and his step father. they chased my brothers down in their white ford and jumped out and began threatening them verbally. The step father then attacked my older brother and jordon (the kid i fought) took on my younger brother. in defense, my brothers fought back. jordons mother who was also involved, scratched my younger brother and tried going after my older brother where kenny was trying to provoke him to hit her so that they would have some "say" on THEIR side, but he backed away and avoided any physical contact with her. they ended the huge brawl with no injuries until the step dad (kenny) stood up, ran to his truck and pulled out a flag pole that had a confederate flag attached to it. jordon, then snuck up behind my older brother and held him back while kenny went to town on his face with the pole. they hit him SEVERAL times with it and jabbed it in my brothers eye as if he were trying to gauge his eye out. Kenny then jumped in his truck and took off to evade police after noticing neighbors watching the fight and calling the police.

This was all on the news today on cfnews 13.

we've called 911 many times in the past in regards to this family threatening to attack us, and what have the police done? NOTHING.

Deltona seriously has problems going on, and i believe that every students parents should be 100% aware of the activities partaking in DHS.

they aren't rumors.. ITS HAPPENING PEOPLE! my brother could have died last night. volusia county's police department needs to step up their game, and actually do something about these racial issues going on in deltona and surrounding cities.

What are they waiting for? somebody to die?

Yea they might be in the school, but standing around looking like they have everything under control isn't the way to do it. this is being taken OUTSIDE of the school. i dont want to have to worry about my life being threatened because a bunch of fools don't like my ethnicity.

when they have to use a CONFEDERATE FLAG to use as a weapon on my brothers FACE, CLEARLY there is some sort of racial issue going on.

open your eyes folks.. open your eyes.

these teachers dont know a **** thing about whats going on when they say that students are doing this for a 3 day weekend. morons.. try putting yourself in our shoes for a day and try walking those halls while having to witness consecutive fights because of race.

I am so glad this has become the place for venting fears and feelings but I am also hearing a stereotypical note in those that are against racism. Because I wear cowboy boots and raise animals, because I love them, I am included in the group that one blogger said as ..."They are so ignorant and their only ambitions in life is to have 3,000 kids and raise farm animals." I'll have you know I am a fulltime student(in college w/ a 3.5 gpa), work full time and are raising not 3,000 kids, but 3 kids of my own. I am highly educated, highly ambitious and a chronic over achiever, but according to your classifications I should be sitting on the couch eating pork rinds and letting the government raise my 3,000 children. Racism comes in many forms and fashions and NONE of it is acceptable! Sterotyping anyone should be a crime. I love my country and I love that my children have followed my passion for animals and living off the land and I don't think a few ingnorant "camo" clad "idiots" should classify the group as a whole. That IS racism! We may not be black or hispanic, my skin may not be yellow, purple or green but that is just as affending to me to be classified in that group and become a target of hatred because of how I live my life and what I choose to wear! Racism at any level is unacceptable! There are "idiots" in every race of human beings but if you allow those "idiots" to classify that race as a whole, then you are just as small minded as those "idiots"!

To PRHSstudent: Thanks for backing me up here. Look i'm a racist not in the least bit, but it's hard not to be toward these people who want to play "GOD" and end someone's life. Look we don't belong to you you don't belong to us...so who the **** gives you the right to lay a hand on us? let alone tell us what we are? If that's how it's supposed to be now...well then you know what you guys are? DISGUSTING ANIMALS with no civility no respect for people who are just trying to live their lives like you. You don't like sharing a school with us? LEAVE. You don't like being a next door neighbor to us? LEAVE. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONES WHO HAVE A PROBLEM but the ones who get hurt and treated like pigs are us. The Hispanics and Blacks have every right to fight back. This area is unbelievable. I live in Miami, I visit Deltona every two weeks to visit my boyfriend of three years, the one who ended up at the hospital after almost getting killed by a man with his confederate flag pole, and every time i go over there there is not one place i go where i could literally feel their eyes on me as if i were a zoo animal in the middle of a store. Maybe you should all move over here and we'll show you what it's like to feel like a freak show. We don't tolerate that behavior over here that's for sure... and you know neither do our cops..at least. I just went online and looked through every police log archived since these problems began with my family and you know what? NONE OF THE 911 CALLS MADE BY US WERE LOGGED. But on those same days, other domestic violence or assault calls were...Hmmmm WHY? these cops have serious explaining to do oh...and for those who are interested in this story... My boyfriend and his family are being interviewed by Channel 13 News and they're broadcasting his story... I told you we weren't letting this slide. Deltona messed with the wrong people and the people who have been in the dark NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT. Keep an eye out for that story to come on.

15 cops is a "gross exaggeration?" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

This is pissing me off. EVERYDAY I see kids being racist towards one another EVERYDAY.

For some of these teachers to think we're doing this for vacation is NOT TRUE.

Maybe some rumors are wrong but they all ended in the same thing- someone was gonna be seriously injured yesterday.

If "nothing was going on" then how come they postponed our pep rally till next week?

If i have to call Obama myself i will ****. No school wants to be looked at as a bad or racist school and that's why they're downplaying it so much. How are you going to tell an actual STUDENT that there weren't many cops there?

There was a fight right after second lunch and these people are saying that it was just a rumor that wasn't going to happen? Or how about the black girl that got punched in the face by the redneck guy? Was that a lie too? IT WASN'T.

I'm worried for my safety at school. Deltona (the city) is an empty place. Kids have no where to go so they start up trouble around town. The mayor doesn't give us any opportunities because he's probably stuck in his southern ways too! He probably doesn't even care. Everyone in deltona and pine ridge high school hates their own school. thats pretty sad.

I wonder why. Its probably because we have ugly run down schools that have no money and all the kids are against each other.

The mayor has some work to do in our schools. He needs to stop worrying about himself and start worrying about what kind of kids are going to be running our society in a couple years.

TOTAL TOTAL LIE.

i agree. this is being WAY downplayed. I don't know about whats been going on in deltona. but it this "Racial War" is 100% true and its been happening for months now.

At pine ridge during lunch all of the rednecks sit in their own corner that only white people walk by.I've been spit on in that part of the crowd. These rednecks think they run the entire school and all they can find to call people of color are "niggers" and that the hispanic people are "Rats". i'm tired of being scrutinized for what race i am, i'm proud to be hispanic and this race war is going on because the blacks and hispanics are TIRED of being disrespected by these people. They are so ignorant and their only ambitions in life is to have 3,000 kids and raise farm animals. This race war is not right and these principals need to be examining the situations WAY more closely. Because i see fights happen everyday because a redneck wanted to call a black person the N word.

We're suppose to be reaching towards equality and these southern people only care about their dumb confederate flags. WAKE UP the south LOST. we are all the same in the end and i refuse to let anyone tell me "all is well" all is not well and when someone dies or an innocent person gets shot then these principals are going to be surprised. i dont want to see the day this happens, but this event seems like a warning for everyone. i wont be surprised if it happens again.

the stuff I'm reading hear is soo true about how there's a situation going on that people aren't doing anything about. The is absolutely 100% an issue regarding race at this school and not only has been going on for a month now but its out of the school and even following our kids home now. Last night my boyfriend got attacked by a white man old enough to be his father and with a flag pole (confederate flag on it by the way) he attacked my boyfriend and beat him in the face basically trying to murder him. My boyfriend was taken to the hospital and luckily he'll be alright he has a broken nose and cheekbone all because this man and his family are racist and decided to take their hatred too far. The man's wife assaulted my boyfriend's 14yr old brother and he has her scratch marks on his face. The police were contacted 3 times prior to this even happening.... they didn't do anything and they still aren't because we're Hispanic and they aren't helping at all if anything they're treating us with indifference. These ppl have been harassing us for almost a month one of the man's sons by the way was one of the boys involved in one of the last few fights in this school with my boyfriend's OTHER brother. We're going to make the city pay for the neglect they've given our family. We'll make sure it's known, because racism may be something unavoidable, but it's UNACCEPTABLE and there's no way that this is going to happen to us again. We've been disrespected by not only this family, but the police dept. therefore the CITY is to blame for neglecting to take the proper action which was to help the situation before it had to turn nearly deadly.

Mr. Marks is a decent and honorable man and a good solid principal. Most students and faculty are committed to the reason for being there. However, it is standard operating procedure directed from the school board offices to publicly downplay these kind of incidents for fear of creating hysteria, creating copycat incidents within the school and across the county, and saddling a school with a bad rep permanently. If it takes s show of law enforcement force to produce a quiet day then there are issues. And that show of law enforcement force cannot be there continually. It is also common fact that what happens at school bleeds over into the community and most often, vice versus. It's nothing new that kids will take advantage of a situation by spreading rumors or using it as an excuse for a day off. What is new is that violence on our campuses and the ability of students to carry out those rumors has never been higher. Although, calm is needed, transparency and honesty are also needed. The truth of the situation is somewhere in the middle. Yes, the stories are being spread, but also yes, there is a basis in fact. DHS has been challenging for a long while. That's part of what happens when you cram so many students on a campus for so long. And an environment does exist where these rumors are plausible. And after the lessons of Columbine, schools and parents should always err on the side of protecting their students and children. The first step is full disclosure and that will result in an increased level of confidence and trust with the school and community support. And stop blaming students who were legitimately fearful or parents who allowed their students to come home. I'd much rather be a parent who had one pulled over on me(like we didn't do that to our parents) than a parent identifying their child in the morgue. The school needs to communicate the truth, the whole truth, of this situation and others. If not, then don't be surprised when such rumors have the room to flourish. The Beacon article may be correct that yesterday was a quiet day on campus. But equally, the news story is that it took a overwhelming show of police presence to insure such.

Why did Deltona's Mayor want Deltona students to stay in Deltona schools? He didn't want the rest of the county finding out how many young thugs are in our schools.

I will agree that seeing the many, and there were way more than "one extra", cops surrounding our school this morning was a bit alarming at first, but from the very moment that the "race war", as its been called, started Mr. Marks made it very clear that no one will be tolerated. Mr. Marks is a great principal amd I belieive he has done all that is humanly possible for a principal to do in order to keep DHS students safe. I was at school ALL day with ALL of my friends, we went through our regular routine just as we ALWAYS do. I know for a fact that if I had been in any REAL danger the school would've been put on lock down. The twisted rumors I've been hearing all day make me sick. Seriously, find something else enteresting to talk about please!

I just want all of this to be over. But Im afraid it wont be over till someone gets seriously hurt.

Are the "teachers" posting these comments REALLY teachers? Were they told NOT to say anything? Maybe the administration DOESN'T tell the teachers what REALLY is going on. My child told me that one of her male teachers told the class that it is a shame to be scared to go to work (or school). As for the number of officers at the school, I counted 11 cars this morning when I dropped my child off. My child ended up calling me to pick her up when she heard one of the "rumors". Is it over reacting to go get your child to be on the safe side? How about asking one of the parents from "Columbine" who did lose a child? My child is a student athlete in AP and honor classes in one of the academies and doesn't miss school on a regular basis.

I go to Deltona and I'm offended that the situation is being so downplayed. Sure, what happened today was just a rumor, but no one could've known for sure until the day started. I didn't hear anything about the situation until I got to school and some of my friends were discussing it, but by third period I was actually kind of scared and was contemplating calling my mom to pick me up.

People who say that those who were claiming there were 15 cops on campus were exaggerating, your wrong. I didn't go around counting them myself, but I have friends who did. Honestly, I really don't have any problems with Mr. Marks, but the most he did when the first fights occured was make an announcement on the morning news and make people go to class for two days. That doesnt make me feel to safe.

There actually is alot of tension on campus right now, and those who say that the school is "quiet" are either trying to decieve us or themselves. I hate to say it, but I can't help but feeling like this isn't even close to being over.

I am a parent of a DHS student... I was called to get him today and I gladly went and stood in line at the Attendance office and picked my child up. To know he was home and he was SAFE was my only concern. I went to the Attendance office and was informed by the clerk that "NOTHING HAS HAPPENED ON CAMPUS AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN" I am only hoping that before this is all over - she doesn't have to eat those words.

Alright, yes there have been fights and yes there has been a disruption but look at the situation. A threat was made that a gun would be brought to school and used on another student. There was no sign whatsoever that a gun was brought to school and obviously no one was shot. I do not know exactly what the person meant by stating we probably just wanted a three day weekend but that is a possibility for the birth of the situation. A few students may have looked at the situation of the last couple of weeks and all the fights and drama occurring and put the puzzle together as a way to add another day to their weekend. Obviously the whole student body wasn't in on it so this was not a planned event by every student. And when a threat of a shooting is released most parents would and were today rather be safe than sorry.

And for those beating down on the administration such as Mr. Marks, he has a lot to deal with right now. All of a sudden fights break out being race related. Deltona High school has been, pretty much one of the most mellow High Schools around. We have, apart from this year, only a few fights a year where as other schools around the area such as Deland and Prineridge have fights almost daily. So when out of nowhere there are numerous fights concerning the issue of race it knocks the wind out of you, at least those with the same observation as mine.

We have a choice here. For those who honestly care for the safety and care of Deltona High School and its students, teachers and faculty will stop bickering about it and try to find out what you can do to help put an end to this nonsense.

As well as a few others leaving comments on this article I attend Deltona High School. When my friends & i pulled through the parent loop this morning we counted at least 13 cop cars parked in the loop. It angers me to read that teachers are saying we are using this as an excuse for a three day weekend? I'm sorry but my safety comes first. One ignorant mistake on campus could end in the injury of another student. I do believe they did the right thing by having cops there in case something did happen. But i also believe parents and students need to know the truth about what is really happening. We can't all go by rumors because then it makes for more chaos. Something needs to be done, or this will never end.

This is the same student that posted at 4:05 PM earlier

I just wanted to send a response to the last few comments I've seen from the teachers. I'm trying to understand how 15 cops is a "gross exaggeration" when I myself, with my own two eyes, saw 5-6 cop cars sitting outside the school at 8:30 this morning, which had 6-7 cops in them and then at 2nd lunch later I saw 3-4 more DIFFERENT cops standing around chatting near the cafeteria. That's about 11 cops right there alone, and I know from many other students and teachers that saw more cops at different parts of the building, so 15 is definitely nowhere near a "gross exaggeration".

While some students played this off as a joke and a chance to take advantage of the school by getting a day off, I extremely disagree with and think it's a completely ignorant point of view for these teachers to sit here and group the entire student body together because of a few that take everything as a joke, including their educations. I for one have many friends, and I myself, that are scared because we have no idea what is real and what isn't and whether or not we should worry about someone pulling a gun on someone in between class, during lunch, or something of the sort.

You make the comment about how something would be done if there was a real problem. Well, there is a real problem and all I've heard from Mr. Marks is him saying these are just rumors and everything is ok. That's completely wrong. Fights in excess numbers of what we usually have, kids being busted with knives on campus and the increased police and administration that's been present on campus as of late all shows there is something major going on, not something to just dust off your shoulder like a fight that happens everyday. When one race is flatout challenging and attacking another, I think the principal needs to standup, take charge, and admit there is a problem.

Oh, and about the cell phone comment, that's another ignorant comment. If it wasn't for cell phones, the police wouldn't have been notified, so if these so called rumors would have turned out to be facts and the cops had no knowledge of them like they were told by a cell phone call, then this could have turned into a completely different situation

Stop blowing OUR stories off like we don't know what we're talking about. Stop grouping us as a whole and stop assuming we're all in this for ourselves. I'm worried my own well being, my friends well being and my schools well being. I'm expressing these opinions because I actually care and think my voice has just as much reason to be heard as mr marks or the police

I dropped off my kids this morning and there were about 15 cop cars and officers wearing bullet proof vest on and around the campus. I called the office and spoke to Mr. Mark's assistant at 7:20 and asked her why all the police and she had no idea what was going on. She had just walked through the door and was going to find out and call me back. I'm completely blown away by the fact that cops were crawling all over the HS and administration had no clue why! To the posters that feel that it's being blown out of proportion, you are wrong. There is something most definately going on in that HS. The racial tension is very high. Only after the last incident did they start making changes, such as not allowing kids to gather during classes. I've been told that the kids gather in a big group in the middle of the halls and that forces kids to have to walk around them. Some line the hallways and stare the others down. This is a very intimidating atmosphere, but they have allowed it. Also, believe it or not there is reverse racism going on. The HS has been taken over by thugs and it's been allowed to happen. Deltona is slowly turning into a ghetto.

I am a student at Deltona High. I personally feel that there is more going on than Mr Marks is telling us. And as students I feel we have the right to know whats going on. I have walked the halls at DHS for three years and I have always felt safe untill recently. When the fights started breaking out (and mulitple fights did occur I was there) thats when everything went down hill. And I have no doubt that a student would bring a weapon and use it. Its happened a thousand times before and will a thousand times again. I personally dont feel like being an innocent bystander to someones stupid actions. Why put the safety of other students in danger? And when teachers say that we as students are using this as an excuse for a three day weekend makes me so angry and disgusted. I am an AP student and I dont ever leave school unless I need to. And today I felt very unsafe even with police everywhere. And thats another thing, there were not just one or two extra cops there were about 15 maybe even more. And not to mention a K9 unit was also brought in. And I think the parents have every right to take their kids out of school in a situation like this. Could you imagine what it would be like for your child not to come home from school because the school thought the students were perfectly safe? Granted things might have been "quite" today. I dont have the whole story so I dont know... But what I want to know is what happens when things do quite down, and when the cops leave and everyone puts their gaurds down? A student wont try something with all those officers around. They are going to wait till after. What will happen then? Will something start again? Will the students ever be able to walk the halls and feel safe again?

I think we only ever get half of the story from Mr. Marks and now I wonder the same about the Beacon. I do believe that there are a lot of rumors floating around, but I also believe there is a real problem and lack of control at the school. To stick your head in the sand with such a situation is a disservice to the parents and the students. Remember Columbine??? I have heard about these "rumors" for 3 weeks now and yet they still circulate. Why hasn't anything been done? Do we actually have to wait until a child gets stabbed or shot before we react? How about being pro-active instead of re-active! This is my alma matter and I was proud that my son went there, but now I question everything about that decision. I want to know and deserve to know the truth about what is happening on that campus. I shouldn't have to look at the police reports to learn something I should have heard from the school itself. I think we all need to take an active part in getting this situation under control, but the first step Mr. Marks, is admitting there is a problem! I am trusting you with my most precious asset and if you are honestly concerned about the safety of our students, then you will worry less about how you are perceived by your public and will "man up" and admit there is a problem. You expect nothing less but honesty from your students and I think as a parent, I deserve nothing less than that from you!

I also teach at Deltona High School and I love our students! The great majority of DHS students are good kids with loving parents.

Keep things in perspective:

Have there been fights recently? Yes.

Were there fights when I was a high school student in the 1970s? Yes. I bet there were when you were in high school too (and elementary school, and middle school...)

Are there rumors? Yes.

Was the student rumor mill in full operation when I was in high school? You bet.

Students are doing the right thing when they report a rumor to a teacher or administrator. But the only way to end rumors is for everyone to stop perpetuating them.

This is sad. The students are just looking to make their story be seen and make it a big deal that they can later brag about to other friends. And the parents, in all honesty, if the administration felt your child was in major danger in coming to the school they would have closed down the school for the day.

It's really smart of your principal to down play the situation. The parents who send their kids to school when they are worried about this situation and then choose to take it out on the school, along with all the students looking for 15 minutes of fame is what gives deltona schools bad reputations.

First off, I am totally embarrassed by the writing of most of these respondents....no, make that appalled!! It shows that you really really needed to be in school, and maybe even begin to take what we offer at DHS very seriously.

I was there today in school and there were NOT 15 police officers; that is a gross exaggeration. Are we to believe that a student actually went around counting them??

This is rabble-rousing, plain and simple, and I do think many used this as a way to leave school early.... no make that I KNOW as that is what I heard when I was OUT IN THE HALL (and not in my room as one student says we are) and heard students talking (LYING) to parents as to what was going on and texting (these lies) as they joked with their friends about soon getting "out of here" (which is another reason why we should have ZERO tolerance in that area in this county).

Yes, parents need to be be concerned...and yes, it is hard to forget something like Columbine, but they also need to use some common sense in matters such as this. DO you really think that something would not be done if there were real trouble?? AND.... if today had happened pre-cell phones, I bet my bottom dollar that this never would have even made it this far...

From the way you write & spell, it's obvious you don't mind missing school. Better get crackin', the FCAT awaits.

To who ever the teacher who posted saying how were just using it as an excuse to get a 3 day weekand is honeslty some bs, were the ones that are in danger, we walk through the halls to get to class, you probably stay in your room like every other teacher does so obvisouly nothing could happen to you right away if soemthing was to happen, us students are the ones that have to deal with it all and listen to everything going on, and hearing there are knives and guns on campus? Thats pretty scary and im not gonna risk my life for one day out of school, the school isnt quiet and i dont appreciate how mr marks is going about it hes not telling us everything and telling us not to worry about it? He dosnt have it under control, if he did this wouldnt keep continuing on as long as it has already. This whole thing is redicoulous!Mr. Marks needs to get his story straight and tell everyone what really has been happening, the TRUE story of it all!

I commend the student who just posted the information. You can tell this is a student who gets it and understands why us parents are concerned about what is happening to our community and education system.

I'm a student at the school, and while yes, the gun thing was a rumor, to say nothing is going on is very ignorant to the situation. There were at least 10 cops that I saw this morning and more than just 1 extra resource officer at lunch, actually I saw about 3 extra. To say there has been 1 fight is ridiculous. There were about 6 in one day last week alone. It's more than mr. Marks is making this out to be and that's disrespectful to not only the students but the parents who have to worry about their safety when they leave in the morning. If marks and the administration realized the tension and actual violence/rumors going around are more than they're making it out to be

I also find it arrogant and rude for the teacher that commented saying a lot of us are looking for 3 day weekends. Tell that to those who've experienced or witnessed the violence and tell that to the parents who checked them out because they fear for their childs safety. Don't be so ignorant and open your eyes to what's really going on and how our school's going downhill

To the "annoyed teacher". My child is an honor student at DHS and I take any threats against students seriously. Look at Columbine - how soon we forget! My child who wants to be at school and learning has to worry about their safety while those that do not care to be there cause these disruptions. Call me an overreacting parent if you want, but MY child's safety is VERY important to me. What happened to the days where the teachers and guidance counselors really cared??? You say you want concerned and caring parents, but then you say we over react - make up your mind which do you want???

The rumors that people are going to be guns has been going around since last Friday. And it wasn't just one fight, there were several fights on the 27th and 28th. Mr. Marks is just trying to cover stuff up so that he doesn't look bad for not being in control. But, he wasn't lying when he was saying all was quiet today, and most of this week. Although I saw more pink duct tape than there was yesterday.

Well congratulations Pat, you've been accused of being a "spin-master". Watch out CNN!

I took the advice of Why and checked the police logs (see Police Logs). It states that two separate calls were received that someone unknown was going to take a gun to Deltona High and use it on an unknown male. Officers & Investigators were dispatched to gather more information. Upon investigation it was concluded that it (the story about gun) was started by students.

Ms. Hatfield is correct in reporting that the school was "quite" because it was. Yes, there was a police presence but, the school was quiet so where is the "spin".

What do you expect from Pat Hatfield the spin-master

The Beacon is absolutely correct the campus is quiet and all this spreading of rumors is completely ridiculous. I am a teacher at the school and while there were many officers present in the morning the campus has been quiet. Kids are just using this as an excuse to get a three day weekend. What a shame that people overeact!

That's one CREEPY lookin Principal !

The Beacon needs to cehks their facts. It was unreal the number of SO untis that were on campus this morning and the motorunit is still there. They will have additional untis this afternoon when school gets out. You need to check your facts and not report a clear lie. All may be quiet, but the facts are there is a lot of police activity at the school

i have to agree, don't reporters work the field any more,or check out there facts?????

not good beacon!!!!!!!!!!!

The Beacon again drops the ball in reporting to the public - just ask everyone in prison if they did it. Why call and ask the principal if all is quiet when all the Beacon has to do is have a reporter show up and see for themselves. More cover ups and the Beacon is now part of it. Check the Sheriff dispatch roster, it will tell you how many units were on the scene. Dah - why didn't the Beacon think of that?

This article is completely a lie, I got checked out of school early because a sorce said it would be in my best intrest to leave. There was most definally atleast 15 cops this morning when I left. And more cops walking on campus.