By Tony Hicks. Bay City News.
The superintendent of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) condemned the use of racial slurs and violence following a confrontation earlier this week between a student and a substitute teacher at Richmond High School.
Superintendent Kenneth "Chris" Hurst issued the statement during Wednesday's school board meeting.
"I want to echo our community's concern regarding the incident that occurred in a classroom at Richmond High School on Monday, January 23, in which a student used a racial slur toward a staff member and that staff member responded by physically assaulting the student," Hurst said in the statement.
“I would like to share our immediate response to the incident and also share our commitment to addressing the underlying issues that this incident has exposed,” he said.
Hurst said schools must be psychologically and physically safe for students to learn and educators to teach.
“Physical violence by an adult is never an appropriate response to a child,” Hurst said. “Acts of violence are deeply damaging to everyone present in a learning environment. We also know that racial slurs are deeply damaging to students and staff, and we are committed to restoring a learning environment that affirms the inherent dignity and worth of all members of our community.”
The district is investigating the interaction. Hurst said the substitute teacher was “immediately released from employment with WCCUSD.”
She also said staff are following up with the student and his family to ensure an appropriate response and necessary support.
“We are responsible for supporting the growth and development of all WCCUSD students, even after any transgression,” Hurst said. “As a school community and as an institution of learning, we are committed to the safety and well-being of all students and staff. This includes listening to the voices of our Black students and educators who have shared their experiences following Monday’s incident.”
Hurst stressed that the district provides mental health support to Richmond High School students and has worked with the school’s RHS Black Student Union to support student-led activism and organizing regarding the use of racial slurs and the treatment of Black students and teachers at Richmond High School.
“Specifically, we are moving up our timeline to engage the community, including our teachers, all employees, families and students, in the development of our equity statement, as well as our stances on anti-racism and what we will not tolerate,” Hurst said.
“We strongly support our Black Student Union at Richmond High School’s call to action to stop using the N-word, and we are committed to actively assisting our student leaders in this campaign,” she added.
“We will ensure that Richmond High’s important community organizing work is met with support, resources, and action to create systemic and sustained change.”
This publication was supported in whole or part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.
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