The principal of Spring Harbor Middle School sent a letter home to parents this week regarding the incident.

In the letter, Principal Pam Waite said as soon as administrators were informed of the incident, the teacher was removed from the class and an investigation was launched. She said immediate and appropriate action will be taken pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We are also working hard to support our students to ensure they feel safe and supported. No matter the context or the circumstance, use of racial slurs is unacceptable in our schools and throughout our community,” Waite said in the letter.

There have been several incidents this past school year in which MMSD employees have used racial slurs in front of students. 

The superintendent for the district, Jennifer Cheatham, addressed recent reports of racism in an open letter to families in February.  In the letter she announced ways the district planned to address this issue, including holding a staff professional development series on racial identity, implicit bias and racial inequality in the United States.

“I promise the community that we are going to work hard to get it right,” Cheatham wrote in February’s letter. “I know we will continue to be challenged. More issues will likely surface. And we will be relentless in our efforts. This is the work we signed up for.”