The parent of a South Middle School student who allegedly heard a social studies teacher say racist comments in class last October organized a discussion on race issues in Lawrence on Friday.
The discussion was held at Lawrence Public Library, and around a dozen parents and members of the Lawrence branch of the NAACP attended.
Much of the discussion revolved around three local high school students who claim they experience discrimination on a regular basis.
"Students yelling at me down the hallways, saying racial things like, 'Go back to your country'," explained Lawrence Free State High School student Taylor Royal, who has Native American heritage. "It's upsetting. I went home crying multiple times throughout my freshman year."
Tasha Neil, whose child attends South Middle School, helped organize the event.
She said it was important for the community to hear about the struggles of minority students following last fall's alleged racial comments case.
"They're the ones that are in the classroom," explained Neil. "They're the ones that are going through that firsthand, so I think it's important for us to listen to them."
The case dates back to last October, when Lawrence school leaders placed South Middle School teacher Chris Cobb on paid administrative leave.
The accused teacher resigned late in November.
According to documents requested and obtained by 41 Action News, the teacher will still receive pay and benefits until the end of the school year. The district will also not release any information about the alleged comments to the State Board of Education.
In exchange, the teacher will not file a lawsuit or take any other legal action against the district.
On Friday, Neil told 41 Action News that she has been disappointed with the response from the Lawrence Board of Education following the case.
Despite a community conversation organized by district leaders held earlier in the week, Neil said school leaders needed to reach out more to minority students and make more of an effort to fix their concerns.
"It's very important for us to listen to the children," she said. "We can go to school board meetings all day long and huff and puff about things, but it's their narrative."
Neil said students who feel they are experiencing racism in Lawrence schools may believe they have limited options for help.
However, she hopes to assist them in fixing racial problems in the community.
"There is nobody there to advocate for them," she explained. "They don't have to worry about that no more. I'm not going anywhere. I think they know that."
Neil said other parents and minority students plan to call on the Board of Education to hold more meetings for leaders to hear about the struggles of students.
41 Action News reached out to Board of Education President Marcel Harmon and Vice President Shannon Kimball for comment on Friday night but did hear back.
The next Board of Education is being held on February 13 at 7 p.m.
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
