Members of the Barrington School District 220 Board of Education called on district parents to talk to their children about tolerance after a Black mother asked the board for help in the wake of her 11-year-old son being subjected to racial slurs at school.
The mother, who identified herself only as Charlize, confronted the board at its Nov. 15 asking for help and change for children who are being traumatized by racial slurs. She said she reported to school officials that her child had been racially profiled and she has repeatedly asked for help, as have other parents, but feels like she’s been dismissed.
She said she has missed work to take her son to therapy to deal with how other children are treating him in school. She did not disclose which of the eight K-5 schools in the district her son attends. Charlize did not specifically state what has been said or done to her son indicated it has been detrimental.
“My son is 11 and this trauma has changed him in a manner of two months of school — my child is a different child from when he walked through these doors,” Charlize said. “I’m asking for change at every level, kindergarten through senior year. Racial slurs should not be used, children shouldn’t feel like they’re not safe or that they have to look over their shoulder because they don’t know what’s coming next. It’s not fair, they’re children.”
SD220 enrolls about 8,100 students from pre-K through 12th grade, across 12 schools. According to student demographic data provided by the Illinois State Board of Education, 59% of the students in the district are white, 18% Hispanic, 17% Asian, 4% bi- or multi-racial and 2% African American.
In total, according to ISBE data, there are 129 Black students enrolled in the district — which also has two middle schools and one high school. Six of the elementary schools do not have a count of the number of Black students enrolled and the number is listed as “redacted.” One school is listed as having zero Black students. At Sunny Hill Elementary School, there are 13 Black students, representing 4.7% of the student enrollment there, according to ISBE.
“We’re asking for help,” Charlize said, “change has to happen in Barrington 220.”
Superintendent Robert Hunt acknowledged her concerns.
“First of all, every student deserves and should be able to walk freely, safely through our buildings so they can achieve what every student achieves: their own personal version of excellence,” Hunt said. “We understand there have been issues and we’re working daily to address those issues and continue to.”
Hunt said the administration is having a greater conversion about diversity, equity and inclusion in the district and the mother’s comments underscored the importance of that work.
In August 2020, the board approved hiring the district’s first ever director of equity, race and cultural diversity initiatives.
School board member Erin Chan Ding said at the Nov. 15 meeting the board and district are working on a “We Belong” campaign.
“Let me underscore that racial slurs are unacceptable,” Ding said. “Parents, please initiate these conversations with your children, too.”
Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.
