Apr 02, 2004 - 08:46:31 CST
Bismarck School Board members are waiting for a final report on an investigation into a locker vandalism at Bismarck High School, in which a 17-year-old student's gym locker was filled with human feces, before deciding what action to take.Police reopened the case in March after a complaint was filed by the student's parents questioning the way the investigation was handled by police and district administrators. Bismarck Police Capt. Duffy Heinle said after looking at the case again, police officials thought additional interviews could provide more leads.
The case had been closed because there was no evidence to prove who did it. Peter and Connie Neigum said they didn't like the way police officials responded to the vandalism targeted at their adopted son, who is black, in what they say they believe is a hate crime. They allege the police dragged their feet on the investigation because the suspects were BHS wrestlers -- who won the state Class A tournament in February.
District officials met with police March 24 to review information they collected in their investigations. Assistant Superintendent John Salwei, who is looking into how the district handled the initial investigation, turned his information over to police. They will interview students in the next two weeks before making a final report.
"The investigation is pretty much in the police's hands," Salwei said.
Parents and community members blasted the district at the last board meeting on March 22 for not reaching a quick resolution to the problem. They also urged board members to look at increasing diversity education because of allegations that classmates made a racial epithet and derogatory "jokes" with racial overtones against the student.
"Jokes and racial epitaphs do lend some concern," parent Jim Lennington told board members. "Apologies should be made and sensitivity training given."
Board members and administrators assured parents they are taking all the necessary steps and if they are able to identify who vandalized the locker, appropriate action will be taken. They also said once Salwei brings a final report of the investigation to the board, further action such as diversity education and policy enforcement could be looked at.
Jeff Evanson, a parent who spoke to the board, said he was glad to hear action was being taken.
"I felt a little better," Evanson said. "But I would like to see more education in cultural diversity."
Board member Parrell Grossman said the board needs to wait until a final report is given and not automatically label the school as having a problem because of one incident.
"We don't know whether there is a serious problem or if it's an isolated incident," he said. "We need to be careful not to condemn the entire student body upon any isolated incidents."
If a final report shows there is a school-wide problem, board members said they will evaluate current programs in place for diversity education and what else they could be doing.
Superintendent Paul Johnson said regardless of the what the final report is, students need to be made more aware of the district's existing harassment policies.
"This is shaking people up a little bit so maybe it makes us consider the fact that our students aren't as accepting of other races or as sophisticated as we thought," Johnson said. "We need to do a better job of communicating to students what our policies and expectations are -- that this type of inappropriate teasing isn't going to be tolerated."
(Reach reporter Sheena Dooley at 250-8225 or sheenadooley@ndonline.com.)
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