Glen Rock Mayor Condemns Racial Graffiti At Borough School

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — More senseless vandalism — this time, a racial slur — was discovered on a desk at Glen Rock High School, just weeks after anti-Semitic graffiti was found at a borough middle school, authorities said.

Early last week, the "n-word" was found written with highlighter on the edge of a desk in the media center at the high school, and was reported to police by school administrators, police Chief Dean Ackermann said.

While seen and reported by a student then, a timeframe for when the slur was written has not been established, Ackermann said.

School officials indicated they will review seating charts and surveillance footage to identify the person responsible, the police chief said. However, he added, the desks in the school's media room, where the graffiti was found, are moved over the weekends by janitors to clean, and there is "no guarantee" that desks are placed back in the same spot.

As of Tuesday, Ackermann said, no one from the school has responded to police detectives regarding this incident.

"With that said, (school staff), no doubt, have hours of video footage to review which is certainly a time-consuming process," he added.

Borough Mayor Kristine Morieko expressed sorrow over the thought that these acts of vandalism are taking a toll on children and families.

"It makes my heart heavy," Morieko said. "Imagine going to school every day and feeling that you don’t belong, that you’re left out, and where you don’t feel safe."

In December, a swastika was found scrawled into the top of a desk at Glen Rock Middle School, an act that drew condemnation from government and school officials. This was one in a string of similar school bias incidents in the past few years in Glen Rock.

"Clearly the schools need to do more," Morieko said Monday. "As a parent, I appreciated the letter sent out by the superintendent, yet strong letters need to be followed with stronger actions."

Superintendent Brett Charleston did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Regardless of intent, this is the consequence," Morieko said. "Parents need to speak to their kids about the impact words and actions have in addition to the school's (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) curriculum."