Superintendent: Hillcrest High students' culture concerns will be addressed
Students' concerns about the culture at Hillcrest High School will be addressed, the superintendent of the Tuscaloosa County School System said Friday.
Keri Johnson's message comes after a Wednesday demonstration at Hillcrest when more than 200 students walked out of class after saying they were told by school leaders to omit certain relevant events from an upcoming student-led Black History Month program.
In the Friday message addressed to TCSS students, families, faculty and staff, Johnson voiced support for students' "right to peacefully demonstrate and to use their voice to advocate for change."
More:Hillcrest High students say they were told to limit Black History Month program
Johnson also said no topics should be placed off-limits when it comes to teaching or discussing Black history, at Hillcrest or throughout the Tuscaloosa County School System.
"Some students expressed concerns that not all parts of history would be included in the Black History Month/Unity Program at Hillcrest High School," Johnson said. "This program is student-created and student-led. TCSS supports our students in expressing themselves, and including all parts of history, such as slavery and the civil rights movement, in their program.
"We also teach these topics in our history classes, as they are part of the Alabama State Department of Education history standards," she said.
She closed the message by promising to listen to other concerns raised by some Hillcrest students in the aftermath of Wednesday's demonstration.
"A number of Hillcrest High students have also expressed concerns about the culture within their school. We care deeply about our students, and it is important that their concerns are heard," Johnson said.
"We are putting together a plan to make sure our Hillcrest High students have an opportunity to express their concerns openly and honestly. Listening to them will let us know the right steps to take to ensure all students know they are valued. This work will begin Monday," she said.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Superintendent: Hillcrest students' culture concerns will be addressed
