The following message is from Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School Principal William Rivers:
I am writing to make you aware of two matters that happened at our school Friday that involved the dissemination of symbols of hate, and to reaffirm that these actions will not be tolerated anywhere in the City School District of Albany.
One incident involved a pencil drawing of an anti-Semitic symbol on a desk in one of our classrooms. Our staff removed this drawing as soon as it came to our attention, and we initiated an investigation immediately. We will follow our Student Code of Conduct if it is determined that the person responsible was one of our students, and our district’s employee disciplinary procedures if the person responsible is determined to be an employee.
In a second incident, one of our students airdropped a photo, while in school, of a person wearing a white hood and holding a rifle, sitting in front of Confederate and Nazi flags. We are following our disciplinary procedures as defined in the Code of Conduct.
We also have reported both incidents to the Albany Police Department.
Every student and employee deserve a school environment that is safe, welcoming, diverse and inclusive. We will continue to respond aggressively to harassment or bias in any form or manner.
No Place for Hate
Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School also is participating this year with all schools district-wide in the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program.
One of our first steps this fall will be to form a No Place for Hate Committee that will include students, faculty, staff and family members. This group will lead our school’s anti-bias and bullying-prevention efforts.
A step in our process of earning the ADL’s No Place for Hate designation will be a No Place for Hate pledge for the entire school community. This will outline the program and the goals we will be working toward together this school year.
Please watch for more information about this important initiative.
If you see something, say something
It is important that if you see something, say something.
We ask our students and families to bring any type of unusual or disturbing behavior or activity to the attention of a teacher, administrator, law enforcement official or other trusted adult immediately, and for our employees to report any concerns to their supervisor, so that we may address it in partnership with the appropriate authorities.
If you or your child have any information about either of Friday’s incidents, or if you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me at school at (518) 475-6425.
