SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Public Schools started a full-scale investigation for potentially racist comments made in an elementary school newsletter.
The weekly newsletter sent out to families features many of the events and accomplishments at the school. Wilson Elementary School families received the newsletter last Friday. In the section about an upcoming jazz concert, there was insensitive content that said:
"Other students could dress as slaves, hobos, or ready for a night out to the jazz clubs."
KREM 2 spoke with Lisa Gardner, President of Spokane's NAACP.
She said, "My initial response, of course, like a lot of the parents, was really shocking."
The principal of Wilson Elementary quickly sent an email to parents and guardians, saying school staff recognized the issue within less than 30 minutes after the newsletter came out. The newsletter was corrected less than an hour after it was sent.
"I believe that Spokane Public Schools did what they needed to do as far as responding to the parents and making sure that they were aware and apologizing for anyone who was offended," Gardner said.
Spokane's NAACP chapter focuses on ending structural racism.
"I'm proud of Spokane Public Schools. And I'm definitely proud of their response," Gardner said.
Wilson Elementary principal also wrote in the email to parents, saying the newsletter's content was unacceptable and did not align with the school's values. The principal stated an individual employee wrote the content and that there would be an investigation.
"We are seeing a community that will not tolerate any insensitivity that will not tolerate anything that looks or feels racist," Gardner said.
Gardner says this incident shows issues like this still exist within the community.
"There's nothing the NAACP can do to prevent racism," Gardner said. "And what we can do is act diligently and act as a community to fight against it."
In a statement provided to KREM 2, the Spokane Public Schools wrote, "District leadership and the human resources department responded immediately upon learning of this situation, as it will be taken extremely seriously and involve a full-scale investigation. We are deeply sorry for the Wilson school community and any others who have been harmed by these actions."
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