Racial Harassment in Ohio School District

A federal investigation has uncovered a disturbing pattern of racial harassment against African-American students in the Northeastern Local School District in Springfield and South Vienna, Ohio. The district serves approximately 3,700 students, less than two percent of whom are African-American.

According to the investigation, the harassment was so severe that an African-American student at Kenton Ridge High School (KRHS) in the district was forced to leave the school out of fear for their own safety. The student had been subjected to significant harassment based on race and retaliation for reporting the harassment. Despite having knowledge of this harassment, the district failed to investigate adequately and address it effectively.

The investigation revealed that other African-American students in the district had also experienced racial harassment and retaliation for reporting racial harassment. The Justice Department’s Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Thomas E. Perez, condemned the harassment, stating, ‘No student should endure the racial harassment that students in this district have experienced.’

Under a comprehensive agreement, the district will adopt a strategy to address and prevent racial harassment in district schools. This includes revising policies and procedures related to racial harassment, hiring a consultant to develop training for students, parents, and employees, and retaining a mental health consultant to evaluate and improve the district’s practices in assisting students who are targets of harassment.

The enforcement of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in public schools, is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.

The agreement marks a significant step towards ensuring that all students in the district are treated with dignity and respect. However, the question remains whether the district will take the necessary steps to prevent similar incidents of racial harassment in the future.

As the district moves forward with its new strategy, it is essential that it prioritizes the well-being and safety of its students. The Justice Department’s efforts to hold the district accountable for its actions are a welcome step towards creating a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.

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