Another Racist Note Found at Seaholm Leading Up to Parent Meeting

 is investigating another incident motivated by race after a racist letter was found stuffed in an African-American student’s locker Tuesday afternoon.

Seaholm Principal Terry Piper announced the latest incident at a special meeting Tuesday night at the school, where parents asked questions and voiced their concerns after two similar incidents at the school last week. targeting specific students was found scrawled on the walls of a boys bathroom April 20, followed by the discovery of an in the mailbox of an African-American teacher the next day.

Marcia Wilkinson, community relations director for , said the meeting, which was not open to the media, was “very powerful” and provided parents and students with a safe environment in which to share their concerns and experiences.

“We want a lot of positive dialogue on this important issue,” she said Tuesday night. “We don’t want to be afraid of talking about these things.”

Parents discussed how their children feel about attending Seaholm and the racial climate there, Wilkinson said. Parents said they were surprised to hear about the incidents, she said, but also concerned that their children — many of them black — felt subtle slights because of their race.

Though the district is still investigating, Wilkinson said administrators believe the three incidents to be connected, with one or two students behind them. Seaholm administrators are still talking to students and comparing the handwriting on the various notes, she said.

“It’s very distressing that one or a few students are determined to undermine what Seaholm is trying to do,” Wilkinson said.

Piper is planning to broadcast a video message to all classrooms Wednesday morning followed by homeroom discussions facilitated by teachers, Wilkinson said. The school was planning to host an assembly this week, but Wilkinson said a student group stepped forward and offered to lead the session. The assembly has been rescheduled for Monday to give the students time to prepare, Wilkinson said.