More video of turmoil at Mitchell Middle School surfaces; new principal works to fix issues

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Things are looking up for a Racine middle school with a history of disciplinary issues. New Mitchell Middle School principal Demetri Beekman is seeing results and getting positive reviews from parents.

Some of those parents have said the hallways can be like the wild west.

A new video obtained by CBS 58 shows a student cursing at a member of the custodial staff, and the staff member proceeds to chase the student up a flight of stairs.

Tabatha Cruz says her son doesn’t always feel safe in the halls.

"He likes his class but beyond his class, he doesn't want anything to do with it,” she said.

In Beekman’s two months on the job, he says he’s diagnosed transitions between classes as trouble spots.

He’s implemented hall sweeps every hour.

"The first couple weeks we were averaging close to 70-75 students that were not in class when class started,” Beekman said. “The last week and a half we're down to six or seven students."

Beekman preaches accountability and believes in communication with parents.

He held his second listening meeting Wednesday night.

“We'll be able to feel it [when things get turned around]. I think when you come into a building you can definitely feel if there's structure,” Beekman said.

Some parents are optimistic for change, but say it’s not going to happen overnight.

A student was recently suspended for bringing a kitchen knife to school.

Mothers who attended the meeting Wednesday say suspensions are down overall since Beekman took over.