Clovis Unified investigating series of racially charged texts and social media posts from students

Wednesday, October 4, 2017
kfsn

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- On Monday, Clovis Unified had counselors and additional staff-on-hand to meet with student groups who have been impacted by the actions of teens in the community.

"There's not a clear next step forward but they want to do something and it sounds like it kinds caught the school district I think a little flat-footed. They didn't realize that this was going on and within the school and this was kind of like an underline culture," said parent Jamaica Wilson.

Wilson's attended the meeting at Clovis West High School. Her daughter is a student there, but Clovis Unified has not released the identity of the students involved or what high school they attend.

In a statement the district's superintendent, Eimear O'Farrell said quote "currently, our investigation is focused on the extent of authority granted schools to pursue disciplinary consequences for online comments posted outside of school hours or activities."

We are committed to taking whatever time and effort are necessary to exhaust every disciplinary avenue available to us in order that our actions may send a strong message to underscore the intolerableness of such behavior."

Renée Cromer also attended the meeting she says this is a very sensitive issue and hopes the district will take appropriate action.

"They were very honest about that it is brand new and they are wanting to be proactive in addressing it and continuing to address that this isn't going to be tolerated," said Cromer.

She feels that diversity needs to be discussed in person and not in social media with students, staff and the community.

"We need to help these kids understand what is going to be tolerated so nobody gets hurt and we can start to change a culture that's going to take decades to changes, it is not going to change overnight," said Cromer.

The district will continue to meet with students and staff at schools throughout the week.