Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa was closed in the days following the student fatality.
In a message following the tragic and fatal March 1 stabbing of 16-year-old student Jayden Jess Pienta at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools Amie Carter issued the following statement:
“Wednesday was the day that every parent, every child, every teacher and every school administrator dreads. A young man went to school at Montgomery High School and never came home, because of a senseless, shocking act of violence that played out in full view of classmates.
As a community, our hearts are broken. The agony of this unexpected loss defies the imagination. I send my deepest condolences to the family, friends and classmates of the teen who was killed.
This is a time to hug our children and bring them in close, while giving them a space in which to grieve. My office is working with our partners at Santa Rosa City Schools to provide behavioral health and other support to the students, families and school staff affected by this horrific killing. We will do everything we can to help them in the days, weeks and months to come.
No child should return home from school with one fewer classmate, or one fewer friend, and it is our job as a community to make sure we are leaning in and supporting our young people.
We also will be engaging in dialogue with Santa Rosa City Schools, law enforcement and our other school districts to ensure we are doing everything we can to improve student safety, but our focus today is on those most directly impacted by these terrible events.”
Classes at Montgomery were canceled March 2 and 3 and expected to resume Monday, March 6.
