Every day, our kids walk into school carrying more than just backpacks. They carry anxiety about school shootings, fear of ICE agents near their campuses, and the mental toll of online bullying that follows them from home to the hallways.

While videos of student fights go viral, the real crisis in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is being overlooked. There are over 1,500 students for every school psychologist. Lockdown drills are rushed and chaotic. Too many students say their emotional safety—their mental safety—is being ignored.

We need to stop pretending that cameras and vague safety plans are enough. Our students need people. They need trained school psychologists. They need more teaching assistants and adults in the building who have time to notice when a student is struggling.

We’re calling on CMS leadership and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to take this seriously. That means hiring more school psychologists and counselors until we meet national safety standards. That means preparing students and staff with regular, trauma-informed lockdown drills. That means making sure every student feels safe, regardless of race, immigration status, or background.

This isn’t just about physical safety. It’s about dignity, peace of mind, and the right to learn without fear. Charlotte’s students deserve more than survival. They deserve support.

Let’s act now—before another cry for help is missed.