Chandler’s Santan Junior High School will host a diversity forum Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Parents have raised concerns about recent racist incidents involving district students.
Most recently, a video posted to social media over Martin Luther King Day weekend showed junior high students singing racist lyrics. The district said it has not punished the students involved because it happened outside of school.
“When a child does something incorrect, we have to make sure there’s some consequences to that,” said Janelle Wood, president of a parent group called the Black Mother’s Forum. Her son graduated from a Chandler High School.
“This was an amazing district,” Wood said. “I loved Chandler. I still do and I believe Chandler can be better.”
Wood said Monday’s forum is a way to start addressing where the district might have implicit bias or need to reconsider discipline policies.
Chandler spokespeople were not available to comment on the forum.
“While it may be uncomfortable, it needs to happen and I believe that parents need to voice any concern they may have and I’m hopeful that we will start to build better relationships,” Wood said.
