Rampant violence and drug abuse in one Massachusetts high school is prompting requests for Gov. Maura Healey to send in the National Guard to “prevent a potential tragedy.”

“Over the past few months, our high school has experienced a disturbing increase in incidents related to violence, security concerns, and substance abuse. The situation has reached a critical point, more recently we had an alarming 35 teachers absent, underscoring the severity of the challenges we are facing,” four members of the Brockton School Committee wrote in a letter last week to Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan.

“The National Guard’s expertise in crisis management and community support can offer a vital temporary intervention, allowing for a comprehensive, long-term solution to be developed in consultation with all relevant stakeholders,” the letter read. “Given the urgency of the matter, we respectfully request an expedited meeting to discuss the deployment of the National Guard to Brockton High School.”

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The Feb. 15 letter cites increasingly frequent incidents of students wandering the halls, getting into altercations, and disrupting classrooms, as well as students leaving school or others coming onto campus without authorization.

The letter comes amid constant reports in the media and posts to social media of student fights, stabbings, and other incidents that prompted a demand for change from teachers and students earlier this month, WFXT reports.

“It has become very unsafe being at the school teaching and the students as well,” teacher Nora Acevedo told the news site.

“It’s going to take a lot of hands, a lot of tears, a lot of sweat, and hopefully not too much blood to make systemic changes going forward,” said Brockton High School Principal Kevin McCaskill.

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School committee members Joyce Asack, Tony Rodrigues, Claudio Gomes, and Ana Oliver held a press conference on Monday to explain more about their request for the National Guard, and how soldiers could help.

Rodrigues said he envisioned the Natural Guard troops serving as “substitute teachers, hall monitors to make sure that the high school is safe,” adding there’s also safety concerns at middle and elementary schools.

“We’re not asking them to deploy a whole army to our school. We’re asking for support,” Oliver said, according to WFXT.

“We have some great students at Brockton. They are doing excellent work. They’re coming in, getting an education. They are following the policies with the educators,” Oliver said. “But we do have some that continue to not do what they’re supposed to be doing, and that’s what we need help with.”

“We got to the point where, we’re asking for help,” Asack said.

That ask was shot down by Sullivan, WCVB reports.

The mayor responded to the letter with an email to the committee members informing them he forwarded the request to Healey, but doesn’t support it.

Instead, Sullivan plans to work with Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez to improve school safety measures and protocols.

“The increased efforts of safety for students and staff is vitally important and is the desired timely result,” the mayor wrote in a statement to WCVB.

A spokesperson for the governor acknowledged the request and said Healey’s office is in contact with local officials.

Others on the city council also opposed the use of the Massachusetts National Guard.

“Our faithful teachers (at all levels of the system) have experienced violence, injury and disruptions for years. Now, suddenly, the Guard is the answer?” Councilor Winthrop Farwell Jr. posted to Facebook. “Soldiers in military field uniforms aren’t the answer. Convene a committee of classroom teachers (as opposed to administrators) and let that committee provide their input and recommendations on how to deal with the escalating problems in schools.”

In the meantime, the violence continues, most recently with a fight in a school stairwell posted to social media on Friday, that are also prompting calls from parents for immediate changes, WBTS reports.

“It seems to be an ongoing issue that’s not getting resolved, and I think it’s in direct correlation with a lack of leadership and genuine care for what these students are going through,” one mother told the news site. “Post-COVID, it’s been very difficult for a lot of members of this community, and I think the focus was kind of getting things done and not how we’re getting them done, and I feel like a lot of the student body has been neglected.”

At Brockton High School, the state’s largest school at 3,586 students, only 23% of students are proficient in math, 36% are proficient in reading, and 78% are proficient in science, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The Brockton School Committee in September announced it’s facing a $14 million deficit.