CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WINA) – The Charlottesville School Board held its first meeting since last month’s teacher sickout over 22 fights inside Charlottesville High School so far this year on Thursday, December 8. Six of those fights were so large and unruly that they required police intervention.

“I should have done a lot more, a lot sooner,” said Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley.

He outlined for the board what he says has to be owned and fixed. Staff vacancies, he said, overburden teachers with subbing duties that give them less time to support students outside of class. He also cited leadership turnover, including the recent resignation of CHS Principal Rashaad Pitt.

Another issue he cited was several students who routinely wander the hallways despite receiving multiple out-of-school suspensions for it.

Following his statement, members of the school board said that it isn’t his fault and lauded him for his efforts.

“I know that you take all of this so personally, so I appreciate the work that you’ve put into it,” said Jennifer McKeever. “I think that it’s just really important that you’ve been able to come in here and learn so much about us in such a short time … and that you can take us to new heights from here, and I thank you for being willing to take that on.”

“It takes a big person to say that everything is their fault, but it’s not your fault,” said Lashundra Bryson Morsberger. “You can only do so much in a school day. There has to be a lift from every member of this community.”

As has been the case at two earlier meetings on the problems at CHS, one speaker pleaded for more transparency. The district has responded with a comprehensive FAQ page on its website that includes discipline data and a new dashboard that tracks student behavior.