RHAM High School officials host community meeting after ‘racially charged’ incidents

HEBRON, CT (WFSB) - Two racially charged incidents within the walls of RHAM High School in Hebron have the district is taking action.

Hebron Public Schools said it called in Joelle Murchison, a statewide leader in work related to diversity and inclusion, to have a community conversation Tuesday night at the high school.

The conversation was triggered after two separate incidents within the last 6 months.

On Friday, a student reportedly found a racially charged message scratched into a bathroom stall door.

School leaders said they weren’t sure when it was written, and that it might be hard to identify the person responsible.

Back in November, a 17-year-old was charged with breach of peace after a noose was found in the boy’s locker room of the high school.

RHAM Superintendent Colin McNamara released a statement that said in part, “It angers and disappoints me that our school district will be subjected to criticism and negative attention due to the ignorant actions of one individual.”

The community conversation with Murchison took place at RHAM High School’s auditorium on Tuesday.

Parents and teachers say these incidents are angering and embarrassing and are working towards a solution.

“When I heard about the noose incident. I was ashamed. I was embarrassed. And I felt incredibly sad,” said one RHAM teacher.

Parents and former students say there have been other incidents too.

“On a weekly basis my son’s come home and he’s told me incidents of racial slurs homophobia. I feel two slurs have caused the schools attention but it’s the tip of the iceberg,” said the parent of a RHAM student.

Rodney Alexander from the Wilimantic NAACP said students need to be held accountable.

“There’s no consequences for the kids. There’s no accountability for their actions. And what happens when it goes too far,” said Alexander.

Superintendent McNamara said Friday’s incident is still under investigation.

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