Parents tell RSU 04 board racist slurs and suspensions have left students afraid; board urges zero tolerance

Two parents told the RSU 04 school board during public comment that students have faced repeated racist remarks and that disciplinary responses have left affected students fearful of attending school.

Ben, who identified himself as a resident and youth coach, said one of his travel-team players had been suspended for five days after confronting a peer and that the player had repeatedly been subject to racial slurs and slavery jokes. "I know that if I said the N word right now with a hard er at the end, everybody in this room would look at me with disgust," Ben said, using the comment to explain the severity of the language he reported. He said he posted about the incidents on the RSU 04 social feed and received private messages from about 11 parents and public comments from about nine others describing similar concerns.

Keon Shepard, a parent, told the board that the problem was broader than a single child and that his son had begun getting in trouble after defending himself. "It's getting to a point now where it's just too much," Shepard said, urging the district to raise awareness and take measures so children "don't feel the same." He said some students keep offensive relationships because they socialize together and that behavior at home contributes to what children repeat at school.

Board members responded in the meeting's discussion period. A board member said the parents' testimony "breaks my heart" and emphasized that racism is learned and must be addressed. "We have to have zero tolerance about it," the board member said, adding that social media can amplify perceptions and that the district must use its policies and available resources — including school resource officers and disciplinary processes — when incidents are confirmed.

Several speakers cautioned that public meetings are not the place to discuss specific student disciplinary details. Earlier in the meeting staff noted the need for care when commenters reference identifiable student situations and said administrators follow privacy rules; the board likewise said follow-up will be constrained by student-privacy restrictions but promised to review practices and supports.

Next steps: Board members asked staff to follow up through appropriate channels rather than in public session and to report back on any general policy or training changes that could reduce recurring incidents.