COATESVILLE — The Coatesville Area School District announced its intention to fire a food services worker who allegedly posted racially charged comments on a social media site earlier this month, Tuesday.
Superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner issued a statement Tuesday night condemning the alleged comments.
“There is absolutely no room for this kind of behavior anywhere in our society, but it’s particularly offensive in a school district like ours that has already been shaken by a racist text messaging scandal,” Taschner said in a statement. “We want to be perfectly clear that this kind of behavior simply will not be tolerated.”
Taschner said she feels that the conduct of employees, even during non-working hours, reflects on the district. The alleged comments made — which were not released, nor was the social media platform involved — are not in keeping with the district’s ethos, she said.
“What you do on social media, even if it’s not during work hours, is a reflection of the school district that we all care very much about,” said Dr. Taschner. “We are firmly committed to promoting an atmosphere of peace, acceptance, and tolerance and where students and employees feel valued. When an employee’s behavior, even outside of the school district, flies in the face of that in a way that is filled with hate and racism, we simply can’t allow that person to continue to be employed and work with our students.”
In the wake of the texting scandal involving former superintendent Richard Como and former Coatesville Area high School Athletic Director James Donato, the district signed a joint action plan with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, Pa. Center for Safe Schools and NAACP-Pa.
The plan is designed to curb discrimination and foster equal educational opportunity in Coatesville schools. District employees, beginning with administrators, and secondary teachers are already participating in trauma informed education training provided in conjunction with the partners from the joint action plan. Additional large group training will continue through spring and the District will be partnering to continue small group training for all employees over the next three years.
With the district’s recent history, Taschner said she plans to be vigilant in working to change the culture of the school district.
“I ask that our students, staff, parents, and community members recognize that this unacceptable behavior was that of one employee, who was not in a management role,” Taschner said. “As painful as it is, I hope that our focus will remain on the many excellent programs and efforts underway to celebrate diversity, tolerance and acceptance. We won’t tolerate anything less than behavior that honors our community.”
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CASD moves to fire employee over social media comments
Superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner issued a statement Tuesday night condemning the alleged comments.
“There is absolutely no room for this kind of behavior anywhere in our society, but it’s particularly offensive in a school district like ours that has already been shaken by a racist text messaging scandal,” Taschner said in a statement. “We want to be perfectly clear that this kind of behavior simply will not be tolerated.”
Taschner said she feels that the conduct of employees, even during non-working hours, reflects on the district. The alleged comments made — which were not released, nor was the social media platform involved — are not in keeping with the district’s ethos, she said.
“What you do on social media, even if it’s not during work hours, is a reflection of the school district that we all care very much about,” said Dr. Taschner. “We are firmly committed to promoting an atmosphere of peace, acceptance, and tolerance and where students and employees feel valued. When an employee’s behavior, even outside of the school district, flies in the face of that in a way that is filled with hate and racism, we simply can’t allow that person to continue to be employed and work with our students.”
In the wake of the texting scandal involving former superintendent Richard Como and former Coatesville Area high School Athletic Director James Donato, the district signed a joint action plan with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, Pa. Center for Safe Schools and NAACP-Pa.
The plan is designed to curb discrimination and foster equal educational opportunity in Coatesville schools. District employees, beginning with administrators, and secondary teachers are already participating in trauma informed education training provided in conjunction with the partners from the joint action plan. Additional large group training will continue through spring and the District will be partnering to continue small group training for all employees over the next three years.
With the district’s recent history, Taschner said she plans to be vigilant in working to change the culture of the school district.
“I ask that our students, staff, parents, and community members recognize that this unacceptable behavior was that of one employee, who was not in a management role,” Taschner said. “As painful as it is, I hope that our focus will remain on the many excellent programs and efforts underway to celebrate diversity, tolerance and acceptance. We won’t tolerate anything less than behavior that honors our community.”
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