Editorial: Improved climate needed at Easthampton High School

Published: 04-17-2017 8:37 PM

In the wake of parking lot violence and complaints of racism and harassment, Easthampton High School administrators have work ahead to improve the school’s climate and rebuild trust with students and parents.

The walkout staged by hundreds of high school students on March 30 came a day after an incident in the school’s parking lot resulted in the arrest of three students on assault and battery charges. The victim, another student, allegedly used a racial slur on social media, which police say led to the attack.

The March 30 protest came after students grew frustrated with what they say has been inaction by school administrators on other incidents involving racism and harassment during the school year.

Those concerns also arose at recent School Committee meetings where dozens of students, parents and a one city councilor described troubling incidents at Easthampton High School, including teasing a student about deportation, writing anti-Semitic signs and vandalizing posters that promote diversity.

City Councilor Salem Derby, who has children in the Easthampton schools, said he first reported an incident at the high school to Superintendent Nancy Follansbee and Principal Kevin Burke last October which he found “greatly disturbing” and, as he put it, “beyond the pale.” Months later, Derby said he reported to school officials and the police chief another incident that sounded like a threat to the school. Derby did not provide details about either incident, and said he did not receive a report about any action administrators may have taken.

For their part, school officials have defended their actions in dealing with incidents of bullying, harassment, racism and rule-breaking “We treat all students fairly and equally,” Burke told the Gazette. He noted that the school administration follows the Massachusetts School Bullying Prevention and Intervention Law and that it investigates incidents when they are reported to a teacher or administrator.

Some students and parents aren’t buying it, however. They are calling for Burke’s removal and for Follansbee to examine the complaints about high-level inaction raised by students and parents. Follansbee has vowed to investigate, saying she will interview students, faculty, parents and anyone who might be a witness to the alleged incidents.

This is an important step in the fact-finding process, and we urge Follansbee to share the results of her investigation once it is completed. Doing so would not only provide accountability and transparency, but also help all in the community learn how the school department did in its mission of providing a safe, tolerant and welcoming environment for all students.

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Burke has his supporters, and 29 members of the high school’s faculty and staff signed a letter of support for the principal, stating they recognize the issues that need to be addressed and that he is up to the challenge. Some parents have expressed a desire to move forward in creating a positive environment for students rather than engaging in more finger-pointing.

Last week, Burke announced that the school will create a three-year plan aimed at helping it become a more equitable and inclusive environment with assistance from the Collaborative for Educational Services in Northampton. School officials plan to hold diversity training for faculty in May as well as trainings and presentations for students and families before the end of the school year.

Clearly, school officials seem to understand that they have a lot of work to do, and it was encouraging to hear Burke say last week that he intends “to confront the issues of systemic racism … with positivity and full engagement.”

According to many students, the absence of that type of engagement has fostered a culture of intolerance at the high school. It is now up to Burke and other school leaders to address what high school senior Isabelle Poirier described as “the deeply rooted issues we face in our school.”

Those issues probably won’t have easy answers. But at least, at last, school officials are asking the right questions.

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