On Friday, a letter was sent to the Wootton High School community regarding an incident where a racial slur was found written on a student’s desk. The school postponed a scheduled pep rally to inform students and staff about the incident and announced plans for district staff to work with the school to address the situation and promote a more inclusive environment.
“Dear Wootton School Community,
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of an anti-Black racist act that occurred at Wootton High School on Monday, December 3, 2024. It saddens and angers me to share that the N-word was written on the desk of a Black student. This incident has harmed not only this individual student but also students, families, and staff, particularly those who are Black or African American. The delay in reporting and responding to this incident exacerbated the harm, leaving Black students, staff, and the community feeling unwelcome and unsafe, and without a sense of belonging at Wootton. As a school system, it is our duty to provide a safe and positive learning environment fostered by compassionate educators. On behalf of school and district leaders, I sincerely apologize for failing to provide the necessary response and support.
This is the second such incident in eight months and highlights the urgent need for cultural and behavioral changes to make Wootton a safe and equitable place for all students and staff. A pep rally scheduled for today to celebrate the beginning of the winter sports season was postponed in collaboration with the Student Government Association, Black Student Union, and Minority Scholars Program. This decision allowed staff and students to be informed about the incident, revisit the core values of our school system, and provide Black student leaders the opportunity to share their experiences at Wootton.
We acknowledge the long-standing harm caused by racism at Wootton. Hearing the experiences shared by students today serves as an immediate call to action for school-based and central office staff. Beginning Monday, December 9, central office staff will work closely with Wootton staff to engage in ongoing work until Black students and staff report a meaningful, positive, and permanent change.
Key student advocates at Wootton High School have shared concerns and strategies to help frame an action plan. These specific items will be taken seriously and incorporated into the plan we develop in the coming days.
The superintendent has asked me to supervise activities and operations at Wootton High School for the next several days. I will work closely with the staff, administrative team, students, families, and community leaders to support our next steps and provide updates as we navigate this challenging time.
I will remain in continuous communication with school staff and the school community in the coming days to provide further information about our investigation and responsive actions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Peter O. Moran
Chief
Office of School Support and Improvement”