Published On: February 7th, 2023Categories: Connecticut News

School administrators are investigating a second racially charged incident at RHAM High School in Hebron in the past three months.

Last week, administrators say “racially charged graffiti” was found in a bathroom in the school. The incident follows the arrest of a 17-year-old student in November after a noose was found hanging in the boys’ locker room at the high school.

In a statement from Colin McNamara, superintendent for Regional School District 8, district administration said that local and state police were brought in to investigate the graffiti as soon as school staff were made aware of it.

The message was carved into a bathroom door, according to multiple media reports, and it was not clear how long it had been there.

In his statement, McNamara said that the school district “does not tolerate hateful behavior or actions, and we hope to identify the individual responsible to hold them accountable.”

The incident prompted a community meeting, scheduled to be held at the high school on Tuesday night, facilitated by Joelle Murchison, who the school partnered with to start conversations about diversity, equity inclusion and address issues in the district following the incident in November, McNamara said.

Breaking News

As it happens

Get the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut

The goal of the meeting, said McNamara, is to remind students and staff of the power of the words they use and the impact their words can have on others.

“The safety and well-being of students is our top priority, and RHAM is not a place where discriminatory or harassing words or actions are acceptable,” said the superintendent.

Since November, Murchison has given a presentation at a Board of Education meeting and has held focus groups with staff and students to discuss what the school community can do to “more clearly demonstrate how we value, embrace, and celebrate the diversity in our school community,” said McNamara.

The high school is also hosting its first “Respect Day” on Feb. 16, which will focus on students and staff treating each other with kindness and dignity.

“These are among the principles that represent who we are and what we believe as a school community, as well as what we seek to foster every day,” said McNamara in his statement.

McNamara said in November that the noose was found by a staff member who took it down and alerted administrators. A 17-year-old, who was not identified because of their age, was charged following the incident. They were charged with placing a noose on public or private property and second-degree breach of peace, state police said.

Source link

Leave A Comment