{"id":58193,"date":"2025-01-08T19:56:01","date_gmt":"2025-01-09T03:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=58193"},"modified":"2025-01-08T19:56:01","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T03:56:01","slug":"school-district-in-vermont-agrees-to-address-racial-harassment-against-black-and-other-minority-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=58193","title":{"rendered":"School District in Vermont Agrees to Address Racial Harassment Against Black and Other Minority Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Justice Department announced a settlement with the Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District (EMUU) in Vermont to resolve claims that the district failed to adequately address racial harassment among students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students faced frequent racial slurs, racist imagery, and a hostile environment involving the N-word, confederate flags, and Nazi symbols, according to authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

A joint investigation by the Justice Department\u2019s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for Vermont found the district did not respond appropriately to widespread racial harassment of Black and biracial students. particularly at Peoples Academy Middle Level. <\/span><\/p>\n

Students faced frequent racial slurs, racist imagery, and a hostile environment involving the N-word, confederate flags, and Nazi symbols.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cRacial harassment violates students\u2019 right to equal protection and undermines a supportive learning environment,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. \u201cThis agreement provides strategies to prevent and address such harassment, ensuring students feel safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis settlement is a critical step to ensure EMUU students can learn without fear of racial harassment,\u201d added U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest. \u201cThe measures outlined will guide swift and appropriate responses to future incidents.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The investigation, launched in December 2023 under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, reviewed three years of complaints and included interviews with school staff and families. The district fully cooperated and has already implemented improvements, such as a centralized reporting system for tracking harassment incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"WestLamoille South Supervisory Union Superintendent Ryan Heraty\u00a0sent this letter<\/a> to district families, and also released a statement to NBC5 in Vermont which reads:<\/span><\/p>\n

“We stand firmly against any acts of racism or bias-based harm in our schools and respond immediately to these incidents when they are reported. When students returned from the pandemic, we saw a significant increase in behavior at the middle level, which was deeply concerning.<\/span><\/p>\n

“In response, we have taken many intentional steps to address this behavior, which the DOJ recognized in its review. The statement issued by the DOJ does not reflect our current reality, which shows a dramatic decrease in these incidents.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the settlement, EMUU will:<\/span><\/p>\n