Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Culture And Discipline topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parent raises concern over use of racial slur at Sandstone Middle School
Summary
A Sandstone Middle School parent told the Hermiston School Board that his son used the n‑word in school and that a counselor had not yet facilitated an apology to the affected student. The parent asked the school to follow up and said he had educated his son about the word’s historical harm.
Chet Mills spoke to the board as a concerned parent about an alleged use of the n‑word by his son at Sandstone Middle School. Mills said he first contacted a school counselor to determine whether the classmate who was allegedly targeted felt comfortable with a facilitated apology. He told the board the counselor reported the word "can be heard in the halls or in the classroom" and that students are reminded it is not acceptable language.
Mills said the counselor had agreed to facilitate an apology the following Monday if the affected student was comfortable, but that the meeting had not occurred more than a week later. Mills said he then asked his son to apologize directly and that he had taught his son about the historical pain associated with the slur. He urged the school to ensure classroom conversations and counselor follow‑through address the issue.
Board members thanked Mills for bringing the concern forward. The board did not take action during the meeting; Mills asked that the school follow up with counseling staff and the affected student as appropriate.
