March 17: This story was up to date to incorporate info from the kid’s household.
Plano college officers concluded their investigation into allegations of racist bullying and abuse involving college students at Haggard Center Faculty — however they launched no particulars.
A Plano mom reported to the varsity that her 13-year-old son, who’s Black, was known as racist slurs, overwhelmed and made to drink his white classmates’ urine throughout a sleepover in February. The scholars recorded their actions and posted movies to social media, later sharing the clips throughout college.
The mom, Summer time Smith, mentioned she tried to get assist from the district and when that failed, she posted the footage to Fb with a plea for motion, sparking horror within the college neighborhood and throughout the nation.
An legal professional representing Smith launched an announcement saying the district despatched a letter to the household noting that “allegations of bullying and cyberbullying have been SUSTAINED.” The letter didn’t disclose what penalties have been handed out, mentioned legal professional Kim T. Cole.
District officers mentioned in a information launch Tuesday that their “investigation of this off-campus occasion has been thorough, has been performed with the cooperation of all events concerned on this incident, and it’s now full.” However they didn’t share the precise findings nor any disciplinary actions taken in consequence, citing pupil privateness legal guidelines.
“When an incident of bullying is confirmed, the district notifies the mother and father of the sufferer and of the scholar who engaged in bullying and promptly responds by taking acceptable disciplinary motion in accordance with the Pupil Code of Conduct,” district officers wrote in a information launch.
A separate investigation, which is being performed by an outdoor agency, is ongoing. That probe is wanting into allegations {that a} sample of bullying preceded the latest sleepover.
“I stay resolute in my conviction that bullying, harassment, threats or acts of racism towards any Plano ISD pupil are unacceptable and won’t be tolerated,” Superintendent Sara Bonser mentioned in an announcement.
The Plano Police Division can also be investigating what occurred on the sleepover. The household of the boy desires it to be thought of a hate crime.
Cole mentioned referring to the assaults on the 13-year-old boy as “bullying” minimizes what he went via.
“The continued minimization of those horrific, violent, racially/sexually motivated hate crimes by referring to them as ‘bullying considerations’ is a slap within the face,” she mentioned in an announcement.
The district additionally introduced Tuesday that it’ll work with a range advisory committee to develop a “complete plan to deal with range, fairness and inclusion.”
Senior college officers will assessment insurance policies associated to bullying and harassment, in addition to these associated to fairness.
Faculty board members and directors will maintain listening periods with the neighborhood to listen to suggestions on problems with range, bullying and harassment.
Cole mentioned the proposed measures fall brief.
“Whereas we are able to actually recognize Plano ISD’s delayed effort to implement a number of new ‘really feel good’ measures, we acknowledge them for precisely what they’re: An effort to do injury management,” she mentioned in an announcement.
The household issued a brand new checklist of calls for for the district, together with completely expelling college students who “maliciously assault others” and retraining workers on their obligation to report and publicly monitor the district’s compliance with its personal insurance policies.
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