Fairfield school officials respond to racist signs in Warde bathroom
FAIRFIELD — School officials have taken action after racist signs were posted in a Fairfield Warde High School boys bathroom.
In a letter to the Warde community, Headmaster Paul Cavanna said he was “disheartened” to report that signs were posted in the boys bathroom segregating urinals by race on Thursday.
“School officials were notified promptly and due to our increased monitoring, we were able to quickly identify the student responsible,” he said.
Cavanna said the Fairfield Police were made aware of the incident and were consulted in the school’s investigation. Police did not immediately respond to request for comment.
He said “the act of reprehensible racist prejudice” would not be tolerated and the student involved would be held accountable according to Board of Education policy 5114, which concerns suspension and expulsion.
“I want to commend the students who removed the signs and notified staff,” he said. “These students showed exemplary behavior and underscore how we hope all students will conduct themselves.”
The school held a schoolwide meeting on Friday, Cavanna said, during which he addressed the incident with the student body. He also said the school will continue its work with the Anti-Defamation League in designing and implementing programs that “foster a school culture where all members of our school community are valued and respected.”
In an email to the broader Fairfield Public Schools community on Saturday, Superintendent of Schools Michael Testani said school personnel conducted a full investigation and the student involved was disciplined. He said respect, intent and impact were what officials focused on while addressing students and staff during the Friday assembly.
“As we work to support and promote a positive and inclusive environment within our school communities, we ask families to continue these discussions at home,” he said. “The district will begin strategically engaging partners to develop a comprehensive plan to support the important Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work in Fairfield. Please stay tuned for more information.”
This is not the first time officials have had to respond to a racist incident in Warde High School. In 2021, police received a report that a 16-year-old Fairfield Warde student posted a Snapchat of a Black classmate with a racial slur. An investigation resulted in the student being charged with second-degree breach of peace and ridicule on account of creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race. School officials said they took disciplinary action, but could not release the specifics due to privacy rules.
School officials, members of the police department and the Rev. D Stanley Lord, president of the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, met to discuss how to move forward after the incident, which resulted in sensitivity training for staff and students.