Platte County R-3 School District administration spoke briefly at the virtual board of education meeting last week about the investigation into a racist incident earlier this month involving the new high school principal.
Superintendent Dr. Mike Reik said at the Thursday, May 21 meeting that the district is fully cooperating with the investigation by the Platte City Police Department, Platte County Cyber Crimes Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
“This is an active investigation so we’re limited in what we can say, because we certainly don’t want to compromise the investigation,” Reik said.
He commended the target of the cyber attack – new Platte County High School principal Dr. Keith Jones – for his professionalism and ability to turn the situation into a teachable moment for his new students.
Jones replaces principal Dr. Chad Sayre, who will take up the position of director of student services.
Reik also commended the community’s reaction to the incident, which was the fourth racist situation to make the local news within a year.
“In the face of hate, the community outpouring of love and support has been really overwhelming and touching,” he said.
Jones was targeted during a Zoom call with students on Wednesday, May 13. Jones, who was hired by the board of education in late April, conducted a Zoom call with parents on Monday, May 11 to introduce himself. About 60 parents participated in the call, which went well, according to district officials.
Unfortunately, the Wednesday, May 13 Zoom call with students in eighth through 11th grades did not go as well. The call was interrupted by four anonymous callers who directed racial slurs at Jones.
“Not only is this behavior in violation of our culture of inclusion and belonging, it is illegal,” Reik said in a statement issued the day after the incident.
Platte City chief of police Joe Wellington last week confirmed the FBI had taken on a role in the investigation, as a hate crime is a federal offense.
This marks the fourth incident of racism within a year at Platte County R-3. In May 2019, a makeshift noose was found in a bathroom stall at Paxton School.
The Platte City Police Department investigated it as a possible hate crime but the county juvenile office determined no crime had been committed and the investigation was dropped. A 15-year-old boy was the guilty party.
In November 2019, a Google Document was shared with students at Barry School, and later with Platte County High School students. The document contained several paragraphs of racist content added by an unknown contributor.
While technology staff removed the document within 20 minutes, more than 200 students and staff viewed the inappropriate content. The incident sparked outrage at a board of education meeting, a public forum and questioning and reviews of district policies.
Another noose was found in a restroom at Platte County High School in December 2019
SUMMER SCHOOL AND BEYOND
Reik said as the COVID-19 pandemic and public health orders are ever-changing, so are the plans for summer school – and the fall semester. A late graduation ceremony has been scheduled for July 30 at the KCI Expo Center, with a virtual option also available. A late prom has also been tentatively scheduled for July 24, dependent upon social distancing rules.
Summer school plans vary from online-only to in-person classes and multiple options between the two. High school summer school will begin online, with kindergarten through eighth grade summer school programs possible in July.
Recent scenarios published by the Centers for Disease Control and the Missouri School Boards Association have sparked questions from patrons, Reik said. He said some of the scenarios calling for stringent social distancing, alternating school days and more are simply possible scenarios.
“They are put out to help the district look at various scenarios and plan for them,” he said. “Some of them are tough and kind of scary, but we want to be prepared.”