In 2004, First Nations woman Vanessa Hickey told the New York Times she had been forced to homeschool her children because of violence at Walgett Community College.
Almost 20 years later, the Walgett resident says the problem is "100 times worse".
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images and names of people who have died.
"Some of our children go to school and don't receive their year 10 certificate, but receive a criminal record," Ms Hickey said.
"No-one in the education department cares — they've been failing our children for decades now.
"Not just these children, but my grandmother, mother and myself and many other families.
Ms Hickey spoke to the Times two months after her 17-year-old cousin, Thomas J Hickey, died in a police chase in Sydney.
She felt that the conditions Thomas grew up in, and the lack of support from authorities, had set him on the path to tragedy.
Ms Hickey is distressed by what she says is a constant police presence at the school to this day.
"I witnessed a few weeks ago four to five police vehicles at the high school for a girls' fight," she said.
The respected Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG) says its calls to "stop criminalising local students" have been ignored.
It is also calling for school staff to receive more specialised training to de-escalate violent incidents
The DEG says the focus should be on student wellbeing and wants police to be banned from taking guns on to school grounds.
"This is a significant problem because it introduces our children to the criminal world and is completely unnecessary," DEG secretary Virginia Robinson said.
She said more needed to be done to make the school "physically and culturally safe" for students.
NSW Police said it prioritised youth engagement to prevent and reduce crime in the Walgett community, with youth case managers and school liaison officers running programs to target young people at risk and create alternative pathways for kids to participate in the community.
"Officers attached to Central North Police District regularly assess ways to improve strategies and engagement opportunities with young people in the area and continue to work closely with the Walgett community and NSW Department of Education to ensure local needs are met," a spokesperson said.
'Disconnected' communities
Walgett Community College became the pilot school for the NSW Department of Education's targeted Connected Communities strategy in 2013.
The program, now in place at 31 schools, aims to address the educational and social disadvantages experienced by young Aboriginal people through early intervention, increased community involvement and better cultural integration.
It involves an additional school executive position, local support staff and a school reference group to formally contribute a community perspective.
Many in Walgett support the concept in theory, but say Connected Communities is not working, because local solutions are not being implemented and only a select few residents are listened to by the government.
"Instead of the government just taking notice of one or two people, they should sit down and take notice of the community of Walgett," Walgett Working Party chairperson Garry Trindall said.
"That's the only way it is going to be fixed.
"In my opinion, ever since the Connected Communities program took over, the school has gone backwards at a great rate of knots."
Mr Trindall said the structure of the program had led to "personal contact" going "out the window" and that important bodies within Walgett needed to be brought together.
"Include all the key players – parents, teachers, police, DOCs, the education department, the community – you've got to have organisation within the town," he said.
Mr Trindall said safety at the school was most pressing issue.
"I've got two granddaughters who both have doctor's certificates saying they're too stressed to attend the school because of the fights," he said.
"That's terrible. It's shocking."
Revolving door of principals
Critics of Connected Communities also say its leadership structure undermines the principal's authority, making it "impossible" for meaningful change to occur at the school.
Walgett Community College has had 15 principals in the past 10 years.
Current executive principal Adam Batchelor has held the position for 11 months.
"Connected Communities is the worst thing that happened to that school," a teacher who wished to remain anonymous said.
"The principal needs to be the boss, but they can't be — there's a lot of political interference.
Working Party member Jennifer Trindall agrees.
"Let our principals be principals and run the school the way that they see fit and have no interference from any other outside groups, including community groups," she said.
"Take advice from them but don't run down the same path.
"Connected Communities came to town with no community consultation at all.
"It was just set up and a committee was formed. I believe not many parents out there understand how Connected Communities schools work — I'm one of them.
New staff making 'headway'
The Department of Education has responded to complaints from parents, acknowledging the frustration from community members who feel nothing is being done to address the issues occurring "inside and outside the school gate".
"I want to reassure them this is not the case and through our Connected Communities program we remain deeply committed to improving student learning and wellbeing," deputy secretary of school performance Murat Dizdar said.
"Over the past 12 months we have recruited a new leadership team that is fully focused on delivering better student outcomes."
The department says the new executive principal is holding meetings with parents and caregivers, as well as making home visits and establishing stronger connections with students.
"The challenges both inside and outside the school gates in Walgett are something we need to take on together and we need all community advocates to be involved and supporting the school," NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said.
"I am pleased to hear the new principal is making great headway at the school," she said.
Approximately four months of Mr Batchelor's tenure has been through homeschooling during COVID lockdowns.
The Department of Education says 15 staff are enrolled in Gamilraay language courses at TAFE, which will translate into language being taught at school, alongside a range of cultural activities, including didgeridoo workshops and Sista Speak and Bro Speak sessions.
But Mr Trindall says decisions need to be made by grassroots groups and authorities need to spend more time with the community.
"I say to the government, get out here and see what's going on," he said.
"Come out here and see where the mosquitoes, flies and snakes live.
