Powhatan School Board Approves Policy Changes Regarding Racism in Schools

Powhatan County, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The Powhatan School Board on Tuesday, June 18 approved policy changes aimed at addressing racism and other forms of hate speech within county schools.

The adjustments related to student conduct, including how hate speech is defined and how it’s disciplined. The changes come after reports of several alleged racist incidents earlier this year in schools.

Community members have pressed county leaders to take action for some time. The most recent push came after an incident where a slur for Black people was written on a Powhatan High School student’s arm.

Under new changes to school policy, the use of slurs in middle and high schools can now be considered a Level 5 offense on a five-tier scale that evaluates student conduct. The discipline for such discriminatory behavior could now include talks with the superintendent and other disciplinary action such as long-term suspension, alternative placement or expulsion.