HCPSSHCPSS Responds to Glenelg High School Hate Graffiti
May 24th, 2018
Message sent to the HCPSS community the afternoon of May 24, 2018:
Dear Community Members:
I want to follow up with you regarding our response to the hateful images discovered this morning at Glenelg High School. As I noted earlier today, these images caused deep distress for students and staff arriving at the school.
Staff members from our Division of Operations promptly removed the images from the school grounds, and school student services staff have been providing any needed support. We are collaborating with the Howard County Police Department in the investigation, and the perpetrators have been arrested and are facing charges.
This incident underscores the urgent need for our community to come together to reinforce our shared values and make clear that we will neither condone nor tolerate this type of vicious expression. No child or staff member should ever be subjected to any form of threat, harassment or hatred. I consider today’s incident a hate crime and Howard County Police Chief Gardner has indicated that he plans to investigate it as such. Our community stands out as a place where diversity and acceptance are cherished, and we are unique and fortunate to be able to count among our neighbors so many diverse members.
Our school system has made great progress over the last year in building our collective cultural proficiency, and strengthening our work towards embracing diversity and ensuring equity and inclusion. We are making headway in cultivating restorative justice practices under the leadership of Dr. Kevin Gilbert, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. However, incidents such as this remind us that we still have much work to do.
I have personally reached out to members of our community who are most directly affected by this incident, and thank them for their collaboration in promoting acceptance. I also value the partnership and support of our elected officials who work closely with our school system to promote our shared values.
Today I met with members of the media to provide an update on the incident and reinforce our convictions. A video of the press conference can be viewed below.
I call on every person in Howard County to join us in standing up for the dignity and value of each individual, taking a stand against injustice and hatred, and exemplifying through our words and actions the values that we stand for. Let us be united in consistently demonstrating our respect and honor for everyone in our community.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Martirano
Interim Superintendent
Press event held on May 24, 2018:
A media briefing was held May 24, 2018 at noon at the Howard County Department of Education to address the incident at Glenelg High School. Taking part were:
- HCPSS Interim Superintendent Michael Martirano
- Howard County Board of Education Chair Cynthia Vaillancourt
- Howard County Board of Education Member Bess Altwerger
- Howard County Board of Education Member Ananta Hejeebu
- HCPSS Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Kevin Gilbert
- HCPSS Executive Director of Community, Parent and School Outreach James LeMon
- Howard County Police Department Chief Gary Gardner
- Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman
- Howard County Council Chairperson Mary Kay Sigaty
- Howard County Council Member Dr. Calvin Ball
- Howard County Council Member Greg Fox
- NAACP of Howard County President Willie Flowers
- FIRN (Foreign-Born Information and Referral Network) CEO/Executive Director Hector Garcia
- Beth Shalom Congregation Rabbi Susan Grossman
- Celebration Church Student Ministries Matthew Quainoo
- St. John Baptist Church Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Robert Turner
- African American Community Roundtable of Howard County Member Larry Walker
Additional updates may come from the Howard County Police Department.
Message sent to the HCPSS community the morning of May 24, 2018:
Interim Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano today issued the following statement:
I was deeply troubled and disheartened to have learned this morning that Glenelg High School was vandalized overnight with graffiti that is hateful and sickening. Howard County Police were immediately notified and an investigation is underway. Make no mistake, this is a hate crime against so many of our communities and goes completely against the values we share as a community. It is completely unacceptable and actions of this nature will not be tolerated in Howard County.
I know that many students and staff were troubled upon arriving at school this morning and we are providing the necessary supports for anybody who needs them.
Today at noon, I will meet with members of the media to help amplify these words and denounce the actions that took place overnight at Glenelg High School. I ask all of Howard County today to join me in an effort to help our community heal. Be assured that individuals responsible for these acts will be held accountable.