Orange School District Investigating Allegation of Employee Using Racial Slurs

[ad_1]

PEPPER PIKE, Ohio The Orange City School District received an allegation that a district employee used racial slurs in the presence of students.

Superintendent Lynn Campbell emailed families and district staff Wednesday, Jan. 25, saying the allegation was received that day.

The email said the district was actively investigating the situation and that appropriate action would be taken once the investigation was completed.

Additionally, the district will provide support to affected students to help them move forward, Campbell’s email continued. The safety and well-being of students is our top priority.

Part of that safety is making sure students are treated fairly and with respect and making it clear that the district condemns the type of behavior alleged to be involved here.

Neither the name of the staff member nor the location of the incident has been released.

Campbell said Friday (January 27) in an email that he had no comment or additional information to provide at this time.

In his Jan. 25 email, Campbell stated the district’s policy on discrimination and harassment, stating that any form of either can be devastating to academic progress, social relationships, and/or an individual’s self-esteem.

As such, the Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender (including sexual orientation, transgender identity or expression), disability, age (unless permitted by law), religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information in its educational programs or activities, the policy continues.

The District will not discriminate on any of the foregoing bases or on any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law or District policy.

Campbell went on to say that as the district moves forward, it will continue to celebrate diversity and support all of our students.

The administration is committed to not only continuing the efforts already in place to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion, but also to seek ways to improve our student and staff engagement that are consistent with practices that protect the civil rights and social justice peacefully, he wrote.

In August, the Orange School Board approved a Diversity Pledge that all Orange High School varsity student-athletes are asked to complete before each game or varsity game as part of the district’s Athlete-Parent Handbook.

The board took the action in response to an incident at a men’s lacrosse tournament game last May at Orange High School.

On that date, a Lake Catholic High School player entered the game with a swastika drawn on his leg. Additionally, Orange alumni and relatives claimed that a spectator used anti-Semitic slurs towards the Orange team.

School board members said later that month that students had alleged prior events in which hate speech and racial slurs were directed at Orange student-athletes.

[ad_2]