Danvers School Board Will Address Racist Social Media Posts

DANVERS, MA — The Danvers school committee is scheduled to discuss the culture at Danvers High School and social media post by certain students when it meets Monday.

Earlier this month, Superintendent Lisa Dana sent a note to parents and students to say administrators were looking into posts by students that were "contrary to our mission to provide an inclusive school environment free from discrimination" after being contacted by current and former students.

School officials did not release details on the posts, and Dana did not respond to a request for comment. But News 10 Boston reported last week that the posts were racist and being shared by a group of Danvers High School students.

"I'd hear the N-word in the hallway," Payton James, who graduated in 2019, told News 10 Boston. "I want the students to be held accountable."

School officials have reportedly interview more 20 people as part of the investigation. Dana's letter said there have been consequences, but added that school officials are limited in punishing students.

"In most cases we are not authorized to punish private, out-of-school speech, even speech that is odious, abhorrent and contrary to our core values," Dana wrote.