Chappaqua School Trustees To Discuss Racism, Video, Discipline

NEW CASTLE, NY — After days of social media controversy roiling the Chappaqua schools community over a months-old video, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting Monday evening.

It started after George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, when a 9-second TikTok video, which had been made in February of several Horace Greeley High School students smilingly saying the n-word, was circulated among HGHS graduates. Liam Curtis '19 and co-founder of Greeley’s Black Student Union, told the Examiner that he posted it publicly because of the "very hostile racial climate" he had experienced at the school.

Addressing the issue Friday, Andrew Corsilia, the principal at Greeley, posted a letter to the community. It said, in part:

This morning a video circulated on social media which depicted an incident that took place at Horace Greeley, this past February. In the video the N-word was used multiple times by several of our students. Today, I have been contacted by numerous parents, students and alumni who, like us, were outraged by what was depicted in the video.

I know many of you have questions about what happened. You want answers as to whether these students were disciplined appropriately and whether we had an obligation to inform all of you about this at the time it occurred. I cannot give you information that violates a student's legal rights, but I can tell you that this unacceptable behavior was addressed directly at the time we became aware of this incident. I can assure you that the students were held accountable in accordance with our code of conduct.

On Saturday, the Board of Education posted a letter on the district's website.

"We are appalled and devastated by racially divisive incidents in our schools and our society as a whole. We know that our staff, students, parents, alumni, and community feel the same. From the many letters which were sent to us by our students and alumni, we are bearing witness to an outpouring of grief and outrage, and the recounting of personal experiences of racism in our school community," they said. "We thank you for reaching out to us and want you to know that the actions you have taken will make you a part of the solution."

The social-media firestorm that raged Friday, Saturday and Sunday included statements from other students and parents of color talking about their experiences, and much argument, blame-casting and name-calling as well.

"I dare say that this is what happens often. Parents knew what is going on but keep quiet. This appears to be exactly what is happening with the widespread racist social media of students in this town. People knew and DID NOTHING," One parent theorized on New Castle Community Discussions.

The administrators of that Facebook group took down all the posts Sunday morning and suggested everyone "start fresh. No ad hominem attacks. No naming of minors."

The rumor on social media was that the students had received a 2-day suspension for the video.

At Monday's meeting, Superintendent Dr. Christine Ackerman will discuss with the Board of Education the video sent to administration on Friday, feedback received from the community, and the district’s response.

The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. To watch it, go here for links.