Security – Pueblo High School

Mr. Carpenter: ‘Building’ Relationships, Chiseling Character

By Esmeralda Almazan & Iraith Arce

For the past month, Mr. Mike Carpenter has been Pueblo’s newest campus monitor, replacing Ms. Vickie Bellay who retired at the end of August.

If he looks familiar to some students, he should—as Carpenter has been coaching Pueblo’s junior varsity football team for the past three years, although he boasts 29 years of football and baseball coaching experience. He can also boast about his JV football Warriors experiencing a very successful (6-2) season.

“I’ve been building relationships with students for a long time as a coach,” Carpenter said, “so my approach to being a security monitor is the same—we’re all like one, big team.”

He said that interacts with students to guide them to create a safer place. By focusing on an inclusive environment, Carpenter said that he can easily connect with students.

“I don’t want to blow my whistle in students’ faces,” he said. “I don’t want to interact negatively with students, and I’ve found that using words works better to motivate them to get to class.”

Carpenter said that he uses the skills he learned during his 24-year military career to become a better coach and now a monitor.

“I was a Resource Protection Officer in the military as well as a security police officer for the Arizona National Guard—and this has made me alert and observant,” he said. “I’m here [at Pueblo] to protect people and to keep everybody safe.”

He added, “My favorite part of being a monitor at Pueblo is being able to interact with students. I can easily make their days better with a simple, ‘Hey, how are you?’”

Although Carpenter did not graduate from PHS, he has family connections to Pueblo. His father graduated from PHS in 1969, and his wife was a Class of 1998 Warrior.

Ms. Vickie Bellay: Thank You For ‘Getting Stuff Done’

By Jonathan Redondo & Emely Villanueva

At the end of August, Pueblo security monitor Ms. Vickie Bellay, who was committed to keeping PHS safer for the past 23 years, decided to retire and start the next chapter of her life.

Bellay’s time over the years—one of the longest campus security tenures in Pueblo High School history—has taught her a lot about Pueblo’s “awesome” students. She added that every year during her years at PHS was different because every year brought new kids and experiences.

Undoubtedly, Bellay’s legacy will continue to grow as the years pass. Her campus security colleagues echoed the same sentiment regarding Bellay: “When Vickie was around, stuff would get done.”

Ms. Nora Monge, campus monitor, said, “She [Vickie] is number one, and she has no idea how much she is going to be missed.”

Another monitor, Ms. Nellie Rivera, said, “We’ll miss Vickie a lot, but hopefully we’ll see each other throughout the years.”

Bellay said upon leaving Pueblo, “I hope students will understand why I was so strict. I was doing my job to uphold the rules and policies, and I treated everybody equally. I was always objective—with everyone.”

She added that being with students and seeing their success and their academic pursuits was one of the most rewarding parts of her job.

Bellay said, “Going to work at Pueblo was my job, but it was always a joy, and I always took my role very seriously. All I wanted for students was to see them become successful. I treated y’all [students] how I treat my own kids because I wanted them all to be their best.”

With all the thousands of connections with students, faculty, and staff that Bellay has made over the past 20+ years, the positive impressions she has created are everlasting.

CCTV Goes Live At Pueblo

By Jose Nagore

More than 50 new cameras have been installed throughout Pueblo High School, replacing the old, dozen-year old nonfunctional cameras.

These new cameras cost nearly $90,000 and were funded by Tucson Unified School District, keeping Warriors safer than ever. In the short time they have been completely installed—a project that began late last school year and completed before the beginning of this school year—they have already prevented trespassers from entering campus; they have stopped fights quicker; and they have proved to be instrumental in getting more information about “other incidents”.

“[The cameras are] not necessarily to catch students doing wrong things,” said Ms. Karla Martinez, Assistance Principal, who was instrumental in this project. “These cameras are primarily for safety purposes. We can see if a student runs away from a fight, or see if someone jumps the fence to get in.”

These cameras are not located in the restroom for privacy purposes.

The screens for all camera film can be found in the offices of all four offices of our administrators, who are the only ones who have access to the recordings, which record 24/7.

“Do I feel safer? Yes, I do!” Martinez said.

‘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.”