Cullman Schools to Host Listening Session, Consider Discipline Policies After Racist Video

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Cullman City Schools is upholding its decision not to discipline two students involved in a racist video, but said it aims to change disciplinary policies with help from the students.

“Although Cullman City Schools has no tolerance for racism in its schools, the school district is bound to uphold the United States Constitution,” the system said in a press release Friday.

Read More Ed Lab: “I Can’t Say Nothing”: Alabama Students and Parents Fight Impact of Racist Video.

In a legal opinion released Friday, district attorney Taylor Brooks wrote that video of a white college student shouting “white power” and “kill all n —- rs” off campus mimicked a TikTok that “Seems to be a satire.” He said that because the speech was “aimed at no one” and did not “cause a substantial disruption of the students’ learning environment,” the students involved could not be disciplined.

“Further, the facts do not show that the speech threatened to infringe the rights of members of the school community,” Brooks wrote.

Brooks cited a recent Supreme Court decision involving a Pennsylvania cheerleader, which concluded that schools should not punish students for protected speech off campus.

However, the district said it was only aware of the complaints about the video after officials had already sought the opinion.

“No student has reported a reaction to the video until this week, to clarify the timeline, which was at the time it was publicly discussed and the board had already sought legal advice on the matter,” the door said. – District Speech, Trent Moore.

The system plans to run “listening sessions” with students who “may have differences” to determine what updates will be needed in the code of conduct. He also said two mental health specialists were talking to students about “conflict, meanness and bullying” and that the system was working with the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools to provide diversity training and resources for teachers.

“As a school system, we have a tremendous opportunity for growth,” Superintendent Kyle Kallhoff said in a press release, adding that the district would consider policy changes to ensure all students feel safe at school. school. “We have an obligation to make sure that every student in Cullman Town schools is welcome and accepted. Our first step is already underway.

Two black tenth graders who attended a board meeting on Tuesday said they would sign up for the listening sessions if given the opportunity. They suggested that the school should teach more black history.

“If something doesn’t change, it feels like anyone can say those racist words, because nobody’s going to do anything about it,” one of the students said on Friday. “Something has to change – policies, rules, consequences – or even the people who are supposed to make sure we are safe and make us feel important in our school environment. It starts with him.

Jocelyn Logan, the mother of a black student who took the school board to task this week over the video, said she was not happy with the district’s response.

“Our family is heartbroken, but not in the least surprised by the inaction of the Cullman City school board,” said Logan. “We are convinced that this is hate speech and we expect students to be punished like our child would be. The only solution is a zero tolerance policy and we will continue to fight for one. “

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