East Aurora School District addresses racist remarks toward students, plans for dialogue on inclusion
0
EAST AURORA, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The East Aurora Middle School was filled on Wednesday with parents who brought their concerns of racism being directed at their kids and other children to the school board. Many called it a troubling and reoccurring issue.
The East Aurora Union Free School District is currently looking into racial incidents at the middle school in what they called "a pattern of concerning conduct."
East Aurora School District Superintendent Brian Russ said the racial incidents under investigation started this month when a teacher reported over half a dozen students directing hate at a single individual.
"From there, we investigated," Russ said. "It had racial overtones and so as we went through the process, we realized that there were a number of students involved, so we interviewed them and gathered information."
Russ confirmed that racial remarks in the school's basketball team group chat are a part of the investigation.
Middle school parents Amanda Jetty and Ejona Liberti said they know the family directly impacted by the comments. Those families didn’t attend the board meeting.
"We support all the kids involved and we wanna make sure that they know that they could come to us, we would help them out in whichever way we can to deal with the situation and grow from the situation together," Liberti said.
The parents in attendance expressed their desire to stand in solidarity with those affected and ensure their voices are heard in the conversation.
“It is worrisome, but I’m hopeful to what I’m seeing — how I'm seeing the school react, how I'm seeing the community react," Liberti said.
Russ said the district is committed to creating a safe environment for both parents and students, stating that the school plans to introduce more opportunities for inclusion and acceptance, such as inviting experts to communicate the importance of words.
"We’re working with our students directly in large and smaller groups and then we’re providing resources for our community," Russ said.
Other parents worry that the school’s reaction is too extensive and affects those who had no part in the incident.
"My concern is that this response from the board appears to overreach in so far as it really suggests the implantation in children that maybe there’s some kind of collective guilt for something and that’s that’s just not American," one parent said.
Concerned parents are planning on holding a "Hate Has No Home Here" rally at 1:30 p.m. Friday outside of middle school located at 166 South Grove St. They said it's a public showing for the victims of racism at the school to show them they are not alone.
Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.