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Officials with the Simsbury School District suspended a pair of students for a day after the photos surfaced earlier this month, which led to a vocal outcry from area residents and the Greater Hartford NAACP.
The incident has led to the district cooperating with the NAACP and other outside organizations to “bring in more diversity and equity programming.” According to reports, members of the NAACP were not satisfied with the one-day suspension and proposed more strict disciplinary action.
“The Simsbury Board of Education needs to understand that this incident has repercussions beyond the town,” Greater Hudson NAACP President Maxien Robinson-Lewin said in a statement this week.
“The action – or inaction – of the district following the unconscionable actions of these students is unacceptable. We know there is strength in numbers, so we plan to show our strength at (Tuesday's) meeting.”
In a letter to parents earlier this month, Simsbury Schools Superintendent Matt Curtis called the image “offensive and hurtful.”
“Despite ongoing efforts within our schools to enhance educational opportunities for staff and students regarding diversity, there is clearly more work to be done. This recent incident highlights the need to make our learning more widespread and engaging. As a school system, we are committed to embracing this work in a more collaborative and inclusive way.”
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