Racial Slur Written On Black Student's Desk At Wootton HS: Report

ROCKVILLE, MD — A racial slur written on the desk of a Black student at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville has prompted Montgomery County Public Schools to redouble efforts to fight racism in the district.

WJLA cited an email sent by the school system that it acquired, which said the N-word was written and the incident reported on Dec. 3.

Seven months ago at the same high school, a student printed the N-word 1,000 times on 1,000 pieces of paper, WJLA said.

" Unfortunately, it is further evidence of the need for significant cultural and behavioral change to make Wootton a safe and equitable place for all students and staff to learn and thrive," MCPS Chief Office of School Support and Improvement, Dr. Peter O Moran said to parents in an email the TV station obtained.

"We are increasingly aware of the long-standing harm caused by racism at Wootton," Moran wrote. "And hearing the experiences shared by students today is an immediate call to action for school-based and central office staff to respond."

Last week, Montgomery County launched an online reporting system for hate and bias incidents. The new reporting format on the county’s website is intended to make reporting all kinds of incidents simpler, county officials said, and allows reports to be filed anonymously.

“We encourage people to file. You can file anonymously. You do not have to attach your name or any information that connects (you back) to this report,” Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard said. “If you do provide an email address, you’ll be given a tracking number, that way you can follow up.”