https://youtu.be/UxKwD-bgrgM
Dear Community Members:
I want to follow up with you regarding our response to the hateful images discovered this morning at Glenelg High School. As I noted earlier today, these images caused deep distress for students and staff arriving at the school.
Staff members from our Division of Operations promptly removed the images from the school grounds, and school student services staff have been providing any needed support. We are collaborating with the Howard County Police Department in the investigation, and the perpetrators have been arrested and are facing charges.
This incident underscores the urgent need for our community to come together to reinforce our shared values and make clear that we will neither condone nor tolerate this type of vicious expression. No child or staff member should ever be subjected to any form of threat, harassment or hatred. I consider today’s incident a hate crime and Howard County Police Chief Gardner has indicated that he plans to investigate it as such. Our community stands out as a place where diversity and acceptance are cherished, and we are unique and fortunate to be able to count among our neighbors so many diverse members.
Our school system has made great progress over the last year in building our collective cultural proficiency, and strengthening our work towards embracing diversity and ensuring equity and inclusion. We are making headway in cultivating restorative justice practices under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. However, incidents such as this remind us that we still have much work to do.
I have personally reached out to members of our community who are most directly affected by this incident, and thank them for their collaboration in promoting acceptance. I also value the partnership and support of our elected officials who work closely with our school system to promote our shared values.
Today I met with members of the media to provide an update on the incident and reinforce our convictions. A video of the press conference can be viewed online.
I call on every person in Howard County to join us in standing up for the dignity and value of each individual, taking a stand against injustice and hatred, and exemplifying through our words and actions the values that we stand for. Let us be united in consistently demonstrating our respect and honor for everyone in our community.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Martirano
Interim Superintendent
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