In the superintendent’s message at the Jan. 9 meeting of the East Penn School District board of directors, Dr. Michael Schilder addressed recent racial issues within the district.

On Dec. 12, 2016, the East Penn School District’s transportation provider was informed by a passing motorist a racial slur and swastika were inscribed in the condensation of an East Penn School District bus window. At the time, Schilder issued a statement saying the district denounces and prohibits this type of racial harassment and is in the process of conducting a full investigation.

On Jan. 3, Schilder sent a letter to students, staff and parents addressing the recent increase in racial incidents in schools in the Lehigh Valley and across the state.

In addition to the bus incident, Schilder said other incidents have been reported to students using “racial slurs and racially-charged language. The district denounces any use of symbols or language that has overtones of racial intimidation or harassment. All reported incidents have been fully investigated and serious disciplinary consequences have been invoked for the guilty parties.”

In his letter, Schilder said, “The problem does not go away with punishment. Emmaus High School is certainly not a racist school and the vast majority of EHS students are accepting, tolerant and kind. I recently had the pleasure of talking about this issue with 25 Emmaus High School student leaders. They find this type of behavior despicable and unacceptable. We all agreed that in order to eliminate racism, students, staff, and parents must confront racist behavior by recognizing it, discussing it and doing everything in their power to stop it. Punishing a few students certainly sends the message that there is a consequence for exhibiting racist behavior, but doing that alone is not enough.”

Schilder advised students, “If you hear someone using a racial slur, call him/her on it. If you see someone being racially harassed or intimidated, report it to an administrator. If you’re in the company of someone making a racist joke, tell them you don’t find it humorous and walk away. Let’s make this an active conversation in our classrooms, hallways, cafeteria and homes with the clear goal of eradicating any and all forms of racism from our school.”

In his meetings with students and members of No Place for Hate, Schilder received the following suggestions and comments:

•Communicate with students via Twitter

•Let students know about events which have happened

•We don’t want this in our high school

•Talk with elementary school students about sensitivity and being accepting

•Punish and follow-up with counseling for students doing this

•Invite the No Place for Hate speaker to come to the school for a presentation twice a year

•Focus on silent bystanders

•Improve communication and connectivity – No Place for Hate members didn’t know about events and unity projects going on in the school

•Train teachers to be comfortable in discussing racial issues with students.

“We continue to pursue these ideas and effect change,” Schilder said.