EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Public Schools is investigating allegations that a bus driver used racial slurs and sexist language while driving middle school students home Wednesday afternoon.
Superintendent Michelle Balch sent two messages to Mountain View Middle School families on Thursday regarding the incident, which she was notified about Wednesday night.
“I am writing to inform you about an incident that occurred on middle school bus E8 yesterday afternoon,” Balch wrote on Thursday in the first of two messages. “Several students witnessed racist and sexist language being used. The incident was recorded on a device and later posted to social media.”
The alleged video that circulated online does not show an individual visually, but racial slurs and sexist language can be heard being yelled. Balch said the bus driver alleged to have used the slurs in the video is no longer driving buses for the district.
“While the video does not show any identifiable individuals, the language used is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of Easthampton Public Schools,” Balch continued.
Balch told the Gazette that the incident is currently under investigation and that she cannot share many details at the moment. She said the district heard about the incident from a community member.
Someone commenting on a Facebook post who said that their child rides the E8 bus claims that the driver is repeating words that are said by certain students that ride that bus. They added that at a certain point, adults need to be held accountable for their children’s actions.
When asked if the bus driver was repeating slurs said by some students, Balch said, “We have to look at it from both sides, we have to talk to the students on the bus as well as review the bus footage.”
In her email to the middle school community, Balch wrote, “I am conducting a thorough investigation into the event. Our district’s core values guide every aspect of our work with students. Racist or sexist language violates these values and undermines the safe, inclusive learning environment we are committed to providing.”
Balch said a school adjustment counselor was on the bus Thursday afternoon to provide additional supervision and support to the students on the route and to help a new driver get acclimated to the route.
Balch said the district will help students process what they witnessed in an effort to prevent future events.
“We encourage you to speak with your child about what they may have seen or heard, and to remind them of the importance of treating every member of our community with dignity and respect,” Balch wrote to families.