In the wake of a racially charged classroom incident, the Winterville Charter Academy Board of Directors has voted unanimously to establish a new Anti-Racist Committee to help guide the school’s response to future accusations of racial bias.
The decision came during a recent Zoom meeting of the board. The committee, known as the Anti-Racist Committee (ARC), will include parents and school board members who will review reported incidents of racism involving students and staff and offer recommendations on disciplinary actions. ARC is also tasked with overseeing anti-racism training initiatives for the academy’s teachers.
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The move follows widespread concern over a September classroom lesson that many parents described as racially insensitive. According to reports, an eighth-grade teacher told students that if the U.S. Constitution had never existed, they would be her slaves — a comment that prompted complaints from parents and ultimately led to the teacher’s resignation.
Mary Martin, a founding member of the new committee, said the group aims to help ease tensions in the school community and to take proactive steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. “We just feel like it’s important that we are amplifying Black voices and doing everything we can … to fight against racism and prejudice,” Martin said.
Another committee member, Salihah Frazier, noted that academy teachers are scheduled to participate in anti-racism training later this month as part of efforts to address the concerns raised by parents.
