Recent disclosures regarding charges of racial harassment of a student at Dewitt Middle School have justifiably focused the critical lens of public attention on the safety of our children. Ithaca City School District administrators and board members have responded to these egregious charges by referring to policies. When the New York State Division of Human Rights determined there is probable cause to believe the ICSD engaged in unlawful discrimination against this particular student, their finding wasn’t based on a district “policy,” but a practice.

We recognize that policies are important. They are intended to help organizations determine how they will operate on a broad range of levels. Among other things, policies define processes and procedures that establish norms, identify standards and communicate organizational expectations. They also help define the intended culture of an organization. However, simply having policies is not enough. What transforms organizations is uniform and fair adherence to them. Adherence is heavily dependent on consistency of oversight, enforcement, accountability and continuous learning systems at all levels. In the current case, it seems evident that there’s been a colossal systemic failure on the part of our school district.

ICSD board president, David Lee, read a statement at the May 8 board meeting indicating that “The District is committed to enforcing (these) policies and procedures to ensure a learning environment free from discrimination and harassment.” According to published documents, an administrator at the school involved responded to the victimized student’s mother by saying he “didn’t know what to do about the situation.” Where is the “commitment” in that response?

All district bus drivers should have adequate training to progressively respond to the intimidation, harassment and illegal actions of passengers. The alleged response of the driver to the boys on the bus suggests outright indifference at best and tacit approval of what they were doing at worst. Such behaviors render the district’s policies essentially null and void and exposes its claim of “ensuring a learning environment free from discrimination and harassment” as woefully inadequate and functionally untrue.

ICSD administrators and board members say they’re unable to discuss the allegations because “it is similar to a confidential personnel matter or a legal suit.” However, their silence now is almost as disturbing as their silence when the complaints were first brought to their attention by the student’s mother.

If the NYS Division of Human Rights had not found probable cause regarding these allegations, the broader community would have never known of these irresponsible and inexcusable acts. All too often, defenders and apologists are quick to label such cases as isolated incidents. We now hear of other students who have alleged harassing treatment and reported it. What action, if any, has the district taken in those instances?

For far too long, the responsiveness of administrators and elected representatives to the concerns of parents and other caregivers has been largely influenced by who they (or their children) are rather than the merits of their concerns. This is discriminatory, hypocritical and wrong. Anyone who understands the dynamics of privilege and power recognizes that the allegations raised by the mother out of grave concern for her child would have been handled much differently if they had been lodged by someone of standing and influence in the community. We must not pick and choose whom we value based on such prejudiced criteria, not if we are genuine and authentic in our desire to be a school district where all children are achieving their dreams.

At that May 8 board meeting, a district administrator’s comments focused on the ICSD’s equity goal and his assessment that progress is being made. While we laud the goal of eliminating race, class and disability as predictors of student success, it ought to be painfully obvious that students can’t perform at their best when they are unsafe, scared, harassed, bullied and depressed. These are climate issues rather than academic ones, and the physical safety and emotional well-being of our children can never be compromised, despite whatever other goals the district is pursuing!

We will not tolerate subjecting our children to a hostile environment. The solution to stopping harassing behavior in the ICSD is firm, consistent action by district personnel. Standing on policy rather than taking clear, immediate and decisive action is a gross dereliction of responsibility where matters as basic as the personal safety of our children are concerned. Policies are often about intentions. What our students deserve and our community demands, however, are results.

Cal Walker is board chair and Steve Cariddi is board secretary of the Village at Ithaca. This piece was jointly submitted by them and board members Cecilia Montaner-Vargas and Karl Graham, as well as Village Coordinator Mike Koplinka-Loehr.

Concerned community members are encouraged to attend the “Call to Action” gathering outside the ICSD Board of Education building at 400 Lake St, on Tuesday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. “Call to Action” is sponsored by numerous community organizations, including ACTION and the Village at Ithaca. Following the gathering, everyone is invited to voice their concerns directly to the ICSD Board of Education during the public portion of the meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.