Pine-Richland parents voice concerns following racist social media incident involving students

In the first school board meeting since a Pine-Richland student’s racist homecoming proposal went viral on social media and made national news, several parents made it clear to the board on Sept. 12 that they want more education on diversity and inclusion in the district.

“This district has been made aware of the culture of racism within its walls for a while now,” parent Alyssa Gerlak said during the meeting. “What happened this week is not an isolated incident. … You are all well aware of the need in this community to educate our students on this topic because it doesn’t always start in the home, and this week’s events proved it.”

In a Snapchat screenshot making rounds on social media, a high school boy holds a homecoming proposal sign that reads, “If I was black I would be picking cotton, but I’m white so I’m picking you for Homecoming?!” A high school girl stands next to the boy holding a bouquet of flowers and making an obscene hand gesture.

The photo’s caption says “This is wild.”

In a statement to Pine-Richland students, staff and parents days before the meeting, Superintendent Brian Miller called the language on the sign “racist,” “highly offensive” and “completely inappropriate.”

The district “is opposed to racism in any form,” Miller said.

Board vice president Amy Terchick read a statement at the opening of the meeting that encouraged everyone to not let the actions of one student “define the vision and values” of the district.

“Many students and other individuals came forward in outrage upon seeing the social media post,” she said. “We as a board share that outrage.”

The district needs to have discussions with the community to “strengthen school culture,” Terchick said.

“The mission of the Pine-Richland School District remains as always to be focused on learning for every student, every day,” she said.

District solicitor Don Palmer called the actions of the student, who was not identified by district leaders, “highly offensive and highly inappropriate.”

Palmer noted that the student made the statements off campus, on his own time and with his own devices. He did not get into the discipline of the student.

“The board and administration consider this a serious matter, and will address the situation appropriately and in accordance with law,” Palmer said.

“How is this young man’s understanding of Black Americans so distorted that he not only believed this was a good joke, but a joke worth posting on social media as if it would be warmly welcomed and well received in his social circle?” resident Mike Barber said. “Who does he know picking cotton, and more specifically, what Black person does he know picking cotton? Does he understand why Black Americans were picking cotton?”

Barber and several other speakers took the board to task for voting down a diversity, equity and inclusion policy in May.

“We have amazing teachers and administrators in this district, and they’re doing the best they can and you all have tied their hands,” Tanisha Lydic, a member of an anti-racism parent coalition. “You have not equipped them for the situations they’re coming against in the schools. You’re not. Shame on all of you for that and leaving them out to dry the way you have. Now you’ve not only tarnished the school’s reputation, but you’ve also tarnished theirs.”

Some people in attendance had signs that read “All Kids Belong: Advance DEI at PR.”

District officials said the board received about 18 emails about racism prior to the meeting.

Board member Matthew Mehalik pushed for his colleagues to go through diversity training as a board.

“This is an incident that is in front of us as a district, and it’s imperative for us to demonstrate our ability to lead at this time,” he said.

Details such as how much the training would cost and who would administer it have yet to be finalized.

Miller said he does not anticipate any issues in regard to funding for the training.

Homecoming is this weekend.