CCHS Responds to Shocking, Racially Charged Graffiti

Local police and school officials are investigating an incidence of racially charged graffiti discovered earlier this week at Concord-Carlisle High School. Meanwhile, school and student leaders at the high school are planning to host a school-wide conversation on race relations next week.

The racially charged graffiti was discovered by students, reportedly in the library, on Monday, March 11. It was subsequently reported to the school administration, which sent a message to parents and vowed that “we will not tolerate hatred and insensitivity here at CCHS,” according to a message from the high school.

“As an empathetic and respectful school community, I know we will work through this and build a stronger culture at the school,” CCHS Principal Peter Badalament wrote in an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon.

In a follow-up email to Patch, Badalament said he believes the graffiti was a random act of racism “in the sense that we do not believe that this type of incident happens on a regular basis.”

Badalament also indicated that there are not widespread racial issues at CCHS.

A date has not yet been set for next week’s school-wide conversation on race relations, according to Badalament, who said he did not expect it would be open to the public and/or media.

Next week’s conversation follows small group conversations in advisory sessions in which students “processed” the piece of graffiti, according to Badalament.

“This is not a community that will ignore racism,” he said. “We all need to stand up to intolerance.”