Police and school officials investigate racist graffiti painted on Waterville Elementary School

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WATERVILLE Police and Waterville Public Schools officials are investigating a case involving racist graffiti painted outside Albert S. Hall School on Pleasant Street.

The graffiti, written in black, was apparently spray-painted between Thursday night and Friday morning at the back of the school, Assistant Superintendent Peter Hallen said Saturday.

It was the N-word and some sort of crude illustration of male genitalia, and it was at least 8 feet wide and a few feet tall, he said.

Hallen said it’s important for schools and the community to work together to address the issue and raise awareness because it’s not just a school issue, but a community issue.

It’s a public building, he said. Every resident and taxpayer, and every person who comes to work in Waterville is part of it.

On Friday morning, school officials notified police of the incident, which was reported by someone who frequently passes by the school and saw the graffiti, Hallen said. Police officer Linda Smedberg, the former school resource officer, responded quickly, according to Hallen, who said a school guard temporarily placed a tarp over the graffiti.

Hallen notified students, school staff and parents via email that officials learned of a very disturbing racial slur on Friday, which was spray-painted on the school.

While not directed at any individual and involving no threat of harm, this cowardly and racist act insults all of us and everything we stand for as a school community, Hallen wrote in the email. .

After the evidence was gathered, the city’s public works department painted over the graffiti, which was on a wooden section at the back of the school, Hallen said. He encourages anyone with additional information to contact the police.

While removing racist graffiti has been a priority before students return to school, that doesn’t mean we’ve moved on, Hallen said. We will not tolerate members of our community being targeted because of their identity.

He said officials will continue to work with school civil rights teams, staff, student leaders and community leaders to respond to the incident and others like them to ensure that schools and the city are welcoming and safe for everyone.

To achieve this, we must come together as a community to speak out against hateful actions and support and embrace those members of our community who are subjected to such conduct, her email states. We encourage all of you to be proactive if you encounter behavior that conflicts with Maine human rights law and/or threatens your or someone else’s sense of safety.

Hallen said Saturday that he and Superintendent of Schools Eric Haley have spoken and plan to convene the school’s administrative team next week to come up with a school-by-school plan, not just to deal with this incident, but other harassing and racially motivated behavior. .

Last year, civil rights teams were created in all schools and this effort was led by Hall School teacher Cathy Lovendahl. Hallen also spoke with her after Friday’s discovery.

We started discussing broader ideas of what schools need to do and how schools could partner with the community to raise awareness and educate everyone, he said.

Possible steps, Hallen advised parents, students and staff, include reporting hateful acts or incidents of discrimination that affect a school staff member or student to a building administrator. People can also report on the anonymous advice link which is available on the schools website: https://wtvl.aos92.org/.

Waterville Junior and Senior High Schools also have access to the Say Something app which provides an anonymous platform to report concerns about personal or school safety, according to Hallen. He recommends people immediately report anything that they think compromises school safety or may be criminal in nature. The Waterville Police Department can be reached at 680-4700.

This incident is the latest reminder that malicious hatred and willful ignorance remain rampant in our city and our schools, Hallens said via email to the school community. I want to make it clear that we are unwavering in our commitment to fostering a safe and welcoming school community for people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. But we need your help. Please feel free to contact me or any of our community leaders if you have any ideas, questions or concerns.

Acting Waterville Police Chief Bill Bonney was on vacation this week, but he replied to Hallen in an email Friday that if he needed anything, let him know. An email sent to Bonney on Saturday was not immediately returned.

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