Parents accuse Marysville School District of not acting on racist threats
A few parents are alleging Marysville Public Schools did not act after their children were targeted by racist comments from their classmates.
The parents of two of the children, who did not want to be named out of concern their kids could be targeted, said their kids were suspended from Marysville Middle School after they got into a fight with another student who they said used racial slurs against them and threatened them.
Both parents said the problems had been ongoing for more than a year.
"For two years I've tirelessly advocated for change in our school system concerning the escalating racism our girls, alongside other children of color, have endured," one of the parents said. "Despite my persistent pleas to school administrators, there has been a lack of action."
Both mothers said a student had told their children he had a family member in the Ku Klux Klan, a hate group notorious for threatening and murdering Black Americans, and that his family would kill the Black students at the school.
One of the parents said she talked to her daughter about the importance of not starting fights, but also said it came after multiple incidents in which the classmate called her racial slurs.
"It's always just kind of blown off," the mother said. "She has no faith in the adults."
The dispute was brought up at a school board meeting on Nov. 16, where parents said they were told the school was conducting an internal investigation.
Shawn Wightman, superintendent for the Marysville school district, said in an email to the Times Herald that the school district had received contradictory reports about what happened.
"Contrary to some statements made in the recent news coverage and on social media, there have been conflicting statements and information shared with the district during the preliminary investigation," Wightman said in an email. "We are working diligently to sort through these details to determine what is accurate and what may be misconstrued. We understand the gravity of the situation, and we want to assure the community that the district is dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. While we cannot comment on specific disciplinary actions involving students due to privacy regulations, we want to emphasize that our primary focus is on addressing any issues and fostering a positive school climate."
Lt. Kim Vetter said Michigan State Police are also investigating the racial threats at the school.
Kevin Watkins, president of the NAACP Port Huron Branch, released a statement regarding the threats at Marysville Middle School.
"We are working with administration to begin to take steps to not only bring about change regarding the individual complaints that have been brought to our attention but to begin to create change to the systemic issues that have been engrained in this district for years," Watkins wrote. "Unfortunately, systemic change does not happen fast or easy but we are prepared to see this through and ensure we create not only a change for a few families that have reported to the Port Huron Branch NAACP, but to ensure we create a system wide change, so we do not have more youth subject to the atrocities that have happened in this district. We will do our best to hold the district and everyone who is involved accountable to the highest level."
Wightman said Marysville Public Schools welcomed working with the NAACP to create an equal and inclusive environment for all students.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Parents accuse Marysville School District of not acting on racist threats
