Hart district investigating social media posts by students repeating racial epithets

District officials gave no timetable for when the investigation could be completed

The William S. Hart Union High School District shared a message Friday afternoon with its community members acknowledging social media posts that appear to show Hart district students repeating racial epithets, and stated that an investigation is underway.

“The language is offensive and hurtful. We are currently gathering information and will assign appropriate consequences once the investigation is complete,” Superintendent Mike Kuhlman wrote in a statement to the community.

“I want to acknowledge the pain and anger that these posts have generated. It is unacceptable that students are saying these things, and it is unacceptable that others have to hear it,” the statement continued.

Kuhlman expressed the Hart district is committed to the hard and ongoing work of ensuring that all students are valued and treated with dignity and respect.

According to Michael Vierra, deputy superintendent of educational services, staff members are investigating the origin of the social media posts, and they would have further information after they completed their investigation.

He indicated the Hart district has investigated social media posts before when students, parents or other community members shared particular social media posts that made them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

The length of each investigation may differ due to various factors such as what the content of the post included, the number of social media posts causing concern, what platform was used, and whether Hart district students or non-hart district students were involved in the incident, Vierra said.

He also encouraged anyone with information to come forward.

“We’ll start talking with witnesses until we’ve exhausted all leads,” Vierra said. “If there’s something that makes a student feel uncomfortable, unsafe or in any way targeted, let us know, the sooner the better.”