West Islip Board of Education holds first meeting after racist incident involving students
West Islip Superintendent of Schools Paul Romanelli said "it's clear that this incident is not representative of our learning community as a whole."
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The West Islip Board of Education held its first meeting Thursday since the district acknowledged a racist incident between its students and students from Patchogue-Medford High School after a basketball game last Friday.
While the agenda does not include a specific line for the board of superintendent of schools to speak on the incident, some parents are seeking more specifics on how the students involved are being held accountable.
On Wednesday, West Islip Superintendent of Schools Paul Romanelli released a full letter to the community which called the incident "concerning and unacceptable."
He said several students who attended last Friday night's West Islip varsity basketball game approached the Patchogue-Medford team bus and verbally taunted the team, which included racial remarks. It's unclear exactly what the students said.
"Across the district, we work hard every day to teach kindness, acceptance and respect," Romanelli wrote in his letter. "These actions were shameful, and it is truly sad that we are still seeing incidents involving race both locally and across the globe."
Romanelli said the district identified the students involved and took steps to hold them accountable for their actions.
Over the weekend, Patchogue-Medford Athletics Director Anthony Cracco sent a message to the community that called the incident both "unacceptable and deeply troubling."
"Thank you for your understanding and assistance as we work together to promote respect and sportsmanship both on and off the court," Cracco wrote.
