Vermont School District Reaches Settlement with Federal Investigators
MORRISTOWN, Vt. (AP) — In a groundbreaking development, the U.S. Justice Department announced a settlement agreement with the Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District in Vermont due to its inadequate response to widespread racial harassment of Black and biracial students. This agreement comes after an extensive investigation conducted by the department’s Civil Rights Division and the Vermont U.S. attorney’s office, which delved into records and complaints from the past three school years.
Inadequate Response to Racial Harassment
Investigators found that students, particularly at the middle school level, were subjected to a barrage of racial slurs and offensive imagery, including the use of derogatory terms like the N-word and the display of symbols such as confederate flags and Nazi emblems. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the detrimental impact of racial harassment on students, highlighting how it creates an unsafe environment, undermines educational support, and violates the fundamental principle of equal protection enshrined in the Constitution.
District’s Response and Ongoing Efforts
Superintendent Ryan Heraty responded to the allegations by acknowledging the uptick in concerning behavior among middle school students following the pandemic-induced hiatus. However, he reassured stakeholders that the district has since implemented a series of targeted actions to address these issues effectively. Heraty underscored the district’s steadfast commitment to combating racism and promptly addressing any reported incidents.
In a recent communication to parents and the wider community, Heraty reiterated the district’s zero-tolerance policy towards racism and highlighted the lack of race-based harassment incidents reported in the current academic year at the elementary school level, with only a few cases reported at the middle and high school levels.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions
The Justice Department commended the district for its full cooperation during the investigation and outlined several improvements already in place. These include the establishment of a centralized incident reporting system, revisions to anti-harassment policies, engagement in dialogue sessions with student groups, and the implementation of formal training and educational programs for both students and staff members.
In light of these collaborative efforts and the ongoing commitment to creating a safe and inclusive educational environment, the future looks promising for the Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District as it strives to eradicate racial bullying and harassment from its schools.
