ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Leaders in the Parkway School District are investigating after racist graffiti was found written on the walls of a bathroom at Parkway Central High School.
In a letter to parents, Principal Tim McCarthy said the racist hate speech was found Wednesday afternoon. He called the graffiti "an affront to the core values of our community and a serious violation of our discipline code."
A Parkway spokeswoman said school officials are reviewing school security cameras to see who went into and came out of the bathroom before the graffiti was reported. The spokeswoman said the people responsible for the graffiti will face serious consequences.
The full letter from Principal McCarthy is as follows:
PCH Community,
Regretfully, I am sending this email to share with you information regarding a serious incident at Central High this afternoon: racist hate speech was written on bathroom walls at school. This act is an affront to the core values of our community and a serious violation of our discipline code. Please know that we take this offense seriously and will work with district officials to investigate the incident and hold anyone involved accountable for their actions. If you have any information that would assist us in the investigation, please contact a grade level administrator or me.
Also know that we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting all and each of our students. High school is a place for young people to feel connected, supported, engaged, challenged, cared for, and loved. Acts of hate, whether they be rooted in racism, religious bigotry, xenophobia, homophobia, or any other form of prejudice, cause our students to feel the opposite of each of those emotions. Our core values of respect, integrity, and caring remind and inspire us to be our best selves with and for one another, which helps us create a positive school community for all students. This is the vision I know we share for Central High!
As we prepare for school tomorrow, Central High administrators, counselors, teachers, and staff will be here to support our students and respond to the harm this incident has understandably caused. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Tim McCarthy
Principal, PCH