Security – Pueblo High School

‘Big Brother’ Keeping An Eye On Warriors

By Mariah Lopez & John Ruiz

“Big Brother” has made its way to Pueblo High School as 25 cameras, in virtually every corner of school, have been installed.

These cameras cost $150,000, which has been paid for by the district’s “special budget.”

Assistant principal Karla Martinez said, “I am very happy to have updated cameras because they produce much clearer images than the old cameras.”

Most staff members interviewed for this story approve of the cameras. However…some students have mixed opinions about the “eyes” around campus, which are inconspicuously smaller and harder to detect than the old cameras.

Emely Villanueva, a junior said, “The new cameras are a little creepy, but they will provide for a safer campus. With a shortage of monitors, these cameras might fill the void of campus security.”

Freshmen Marquis said, “I feel weird being watched all the time. It ruins my privacy.”

Senior Diego Ramirez said. “It’s also scary not knowing where all the cameras are… they could be anywhere.”

…Which is the whole point. Administration is confident that these cameras will aid in controlling discipline and inhibiting bad behavior.

Martinez said, “The cameras were installed in all areas around the school. It’s now possible to see virtually every inch of Pueblo’s campus.”

Security monitors are also optimistic about the new cameras helping keep order on campus.

Security monitor Ms. Nellie Rivera said, “No matter where a student is located, administration and school safety have access to cameras in any location, from phones and monitors in the office. These cameras won’t solve every problem, but they will certainly help.”

Monitors Go Mobile!

by Jose Nagore & Julian Tellez

Nora Monge, Nellie Rivera, Goya Ruiz & Vicky Bellay (L-R) with new security golf cart.

Our Pueblo High School security monitors received a golf car earlier this school year courtesy of the TUSD Pueblo Site Council, which our security team has been requesting for several years.

At one time, PHS had a few of these golf cars. One began to slowly need repairs until it became non-cost effective. Another golf car was stolen.

Security monitor Ms. Nellie Rivera said, “We were able to find a golf car that was discounted by hundreds of dollars, and with the help of Mr. Medhi’s persuasive written proposal regarding the necessities of this vehicle, the Council at last agreed to our request, and we were grateful for their decision.”

According to Pueblo High School security monitor Ms. Vicki Bellay, the golf car was normally priced at more than $4,000 by Golf Cars of Arizona, but a sale price was far less—which was a satisfactorily amount for the Site Council.

Now, the golf car allows monitors to quickly arrive at an emergency and to cover Pueblo’s sprawling campus much more efficiently and extremely quickly.

This battery-operated vehicle’s charge lasts about three days, according to Bellay.

“I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have this car,” she added. “We’re hoping that we monitors can have another second vehicle to double the coverage of our security zones—or to have an extra one in reserves.”

Security monitor Ms. Goya Ruiz said, “This golf car has allowed us to arrive at emergencies much quicker—including students who have been injured. It’s been a life saver!”

With a shortage of security monitors this school year, and having easy access to all corners around campus, the golf car has been even more necessary.

Ms. Nora Monge, another security monitor, said, “Having access to the golf car has been a real gift to us. We hope to enjoy it for a long time and continue to use it to help the Pueblo community.”

Another monitor, Ms. Joanna Medina, said, “I was very excited to get the golf car—like getting a new car—and it makes my job easier. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to drive.”

‘Ozzy’ To The Rescue: New Campus Monitor Hired At Pueblo

by Jenaiyah Molina

Pueblo High School has once again gained another monitor this school year. Mr. Oswaldo “Ozzy” Herrera has joined our community to help keep students safe and to ensure that these students are adhering to all the rules and policies.

Herrera said that he takes his new job very seriously and just wants to make sure all students are safe, in and out of their classrooms.

“It’s a never-ending job,” Herrera said, “keeping students in line and helping the other monitors with the huge task of getting students where they’re supposed to be: in class!”

Herrera, who might look like a high school student himself (he’s only 23!), said that he enjoyed his years as a high school student, and he wants to make sure that today’s high school students stay safe and out of trouble.

“I really wish that all of the students at Pueblo knew how important staying in class will help them in the long run,” Herrera said. “I realize that times are tough—nothing is easy—but earning high grades and eventually graduating on time should be in students’ best interest.”

Unfortunately, Herrera has had his share of “busting” students who have broken school rules—although he did add that he’s not as “busy” in recent weeks as he was earlier this school year.

“In the beginning weeks of this school year, I was busting about three students a day smoking pot in the bathrooms,” Herrera said. “Now, that number is down to about once a day and sometimes less.”

He said that having a few more male monitors could help him to do his job more thoroughly.

“We have awesome, smart, strict monitors who are definitely doing their jobs,” Herrera said, “but this school needs more male monitors to help with the male students who are breaking the rules in bathrooms.”

Herrera added that although he has had the unfortunate task of busting students, he also acknowledges that most of the students at Pueblo are respectful and talented.

As an avid fan of sports—specifically, volleyball, football and basketball—Herrera said that has observed that Pueblo High School is full of talented student athletes.

“As I monitor the gym, I see a lot of talented kids who really should be on the basketball team or in other sports teams,” said Herrera. “I encourage all students to belong to a club—whether or not it’s related to sports or not. Students who are engaged in high school motivates them to attend classes every day and to stay focused on what they love most.”

As much as Herrera loves the challenge of being security monitor at Pueblo, he said that his long-term goal is to become a recording engineer.

“I attended the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Ariz., and I loved what I learned there,” Herrera said. “I want to save up some money and eventually move out to Los Angeles with my brother, who is already waiting for me there to join him in establishing ourselves as recording engineers.”

Until then, Herrera said that he wants to stay focused on keeping the Pueblo High School as safe as possible.

“I love working at Pueblo,” Herrera said. “I love the monitors here—they’re a great group of dedicated workers. As I love and respect this school, I expect to receive the same from them.”

New Monitor Strengthens Security: Joanna Medina

By George Molina

“If I had my way, I would hire four more monitors to help with discipline problems at Pueblo High School,” said Ms. Joanna Medina, one of two monitors hired in 2021.

Specifically, Medina said that she would hire more male monitors to help balance the ratio between male and female security personnel.

“Female monitors are not allowed to enter the boys’ bathrooms without knocking first to inform them,” Medina said, “and by that time, bad behavior is missed.”

Medina knows exactly what it feels like to be in charge over hundreds of young people. She was a correctional officer and counselor for criminally troubled girls at the Gila River Detention Center near Sacaton, Ariz., in Pinal County, north of Tucson.

“My job is definitely easier here at Pueblo than at a detention center,” Medina said. “However, our students at Pueblo really need to follow the rules better, listen to authority, and take their learning more seriously. They also really, really need to get to class on time. Finally, I wish that a lot of girls would learn to dress better and not so revealing.”

Medina said that if she were an administrator, she would hire more monitors to enforce the rules—especially a few more male monitors.

Despite her challenges since being hired last January, Medina said that she is starting to feel the warmth of the Pueblo High School community.

“I really like working with the other monitors,” she said. “They all have their own distinct personalities, and all of our differences is what makes us strong and united.”

Medina said that she hopes that students start taking her and the other monitors more seriously as the first semester comes to a near-end.

“Most of our students are great,” she said, “but it only takes a few bad apples to tarnish that greatness.”

Pueblo Welcomes New Monitor!

By Lauren Ahern

As the second semester started on January 9, 2017, Pueblo welcomed a new member to the list of faculty and staff .

Mr. Michael Yslada is Pueblo’s newest campus monitor.

Although he has been at Pueblo for only a few weeks, Yslada said that so far being a security monitor has been easier than what he thought.

As a football coach for eighth-graders (Pop Warner) for the past three years, Yslada said that he is used to being around children and is accustomed to interacting with them

Already, Yslada said that he feels confident about knowing his way around campus.

As a former Tucson High School graduate, Yslada said that he likes how small Pueblo is and how easy it is to locate the different classrooms and the teachers.

In his first three weeks as a monitor, Yslada said that he has encountered just a few moments when teachers needed to have disruptive students removed from their classrooms. He said that he believes that most students are respectful and well-behaved at Pueblo.

Yslada is unsure how long he plans to work at Pueblo, but he admitted that he would love to be our school’s varsity football coach.

He said that he is interested in learning more about the Pima County Sheriff’s Department or Tucson Police Department.

For now, Yslada said that he is very content about being at Pueblo.

“Even after just a few weeks, I can tell that Pueblo is a community school, and I enjoy how intimate it can be,” Yslada said.

Cheer Coach Becomes New Monitor

By Laura Conde

After Mr. Sean Jack left for a new position near Denver, CO, last quarter, Pueblo was without a monitor—but not for long. Pueblo’s Cheer coach, Mr. Frankie Grijalva, applied for this vacancy and was hired as Pueblo’s newest campus monitor several weeks ago.

Grijalva said that he is very excited to expand his bond with Pueblo students.

“Pueblo makes me feel at home—I’m always very comfortable,” Grijalva said. “I’m planning to stay here as long as I can.”

He added, “Being a campus monitor is good practice for me getting to know just about everybody at Pueblo,” he said, “and so far it’s been a lot of work but also a lot of fun. This job is teaching me how to have patience, that’s for sure.”

Grijalva, a Class of 2004 Tucson High graduate, stayed active in three dance groups, and he knew then that he wanted to pursue a dancing career.

As for future plans, Grijalva added that he would eventually like to be a full-time dance teacher at Pueblo.

“When I was a student in high school, I wanted to become a dance teacher and dance coach,” he said, “so I’m definitely halfway there. However, I really would love to add ‘full-time dance teacher’ to my resume.”