Arlington Superintendent Issues Statement on Fight, Racially-Charged Statements at Ottoson Middle School

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Kathleen Bodie issued a statement Wednesday night regarding a fight which occurred at the Ottoson Middle School eight days before.

Bodie announced Wednesday night that two students were involved in a fight which culminated in a student shouting "racially-charged statements" at the other student on Sept. 13. Bodie issued a detailed statement regarding the incident, which can be found below.

"On Sept. 13, 2016, two students at the Ottoson Middle School were involved in a physical altercation that resulted in one student shouting racially-charged statements at the other student.

"School officials immediately stepped in, and the parents of the two students involved in the fight were notified. The Arlington Police Department School Resource Officer and Arlington Human Rights Commission were also notified.

"We believe that this was an isolated incident. Due to educational privacy laws, I cannot elaborate further. The Arlington Public Schools administration is open and transparent, and we endeavor to reach out not only to parents but also to the news media when there are incidents. We have spoken with all of the parents of the students involved, and we have issued punishments and restorative actions that are fair and in line with our values.

"There have been three incidents in the past year that have been reported to school authorities: racist graffiti found in a bathroom in March, which remains under investigation; a racist texting incident in June that was later determined to be a hoax; and this incident on Sept. 13.

"But even if this was the only incident of racial insensitivity or discrimination in our school district, one would be too much. Incidents like these distress our entire school community. One of our core values at Ottoson Middle School is to respect others, regardless of race, gender, sexuality or religion. Students, faculty and staff support and respect their peers' abilities and differences. This incident gives us an an opportunity to reinforce our core values and to work with students directly or indirectly affected by the incident to ensure they understand how hateful speech and actions can be harmful to our school culture and entire community.

"Arlington Public Schools are welcoming and diverse places where multiculturalism is embraced and enjoyed. We are a leader in LGBTQ issues, and we foster a progressive dialog on race, gender, religion, nationality, and a variety of other issues that make us unique as human beings.

"Just today, our sixth grade classrooms hosted forums where students shared stories about their family cultures. The discussions were entirely positive and constructive, and the feedback from teachers and students has been very positive.

"In addition, our Ottoson Middle School fall art installation is focused on emphasizing the importance of living in an inclusive community, and students will take close-up photographs of each other, showcasing the uniqueness of each individual in the middle school. The exhibit, entitled "Inside Out," will be installed in late October.

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