Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 26, 1993 TAG: 9303260349
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY BISHOP STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
RACISM CLAIM DENIED
FRANKLIN COUNTY'S school superintendent says reports of racial tensions at his schools have been exaggerated, but he'll propose creation of a commission of black and white parents to review how the schools deal with diversity. Meanwhile, a teacher at the center of the stir finally has spoken.\ Lari Scruggs, the Franklin County High School math teacher accused of using the word "nigger" in a conversation with two students last month, says she did not use racial slurs.
In a three-line statement to county School Superintendent Leonard Gereau on Wednesday, she said:
"In response to the allegation made against me, I would like for the record to deny that I used any derogatory racial slurs. This is completely untrue and has been fabricated and blown completely out of proportion."
Another teacher had reported that one of the two white students told her Scruggs had referred to a black history assembly as a "nigger" program and that Scruggs, who is white, cautioned the girls against interracial dating.
Authorities will not confirm it, but others at the school say Scruggs was put on a paid leave after the incident. She could not be reached for comment at her home Thursday evening.
Nadine Keen, the black English teacher who reported the episode to administrators and to the news media, has been on paid leave for the past 10 days because, she says, there were rumors at the school of physical threats against her. She said this week that she would meet with Gereau this afternoon to discuss her future.
Gereau said in a news release Thursday that Keen's leave "was not disciplinary in nature." The impetus for it, he said, "came at the urging of Ms. Keen and her husband."
Keen and her husband reported rumored threats to school officials and police. Still, Keen said this week, she objected to the leave and wanted to return to school.
She agreed earlier to the leave, Gereau said. "Ms. Keen's change of heart is confusing since her visibility in the media contributed to the seriousness of the safety concerns she expressed at the time."
In a Thursday interview, Gereau said his schools are safe and calm, contrary to media reports and Keen's statement this week that there were rumors that students might bring guns and knives to school.
Gereau said there was "nothing" to that rumor. Despite the unfavorable attention, he said, "the kids have acted very maturely."
He said a newspaper report on what Keen said about guns and knives caused parents to become unduly alarmed.
Gereau had not commented publicly during the controversy because he was on a 12-day tour of English and Irish secondary schools.
"Recent media coverage on Franklin County High School has created a misimpression regarding the status of race relations at the high school and in the school system," he said in a three-page news release. He said there was "no record of racial intolerance or discrimination" at the high school.
"We will not permit intolerance or discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age or disability by anyone employed by or associated with the school division." He said parents and students who encounter problems should take them to their school principal and, if dissatisfied, talk with him and other officials up the chain of command.
"Unfortunately," his statement said, "most of the reported tension was created by individuals who have used the press and involved some students to sensationalize a few incidents that have been and are continuing to be corrected."
Gereau would not identify the person he believes is manipulating the news media.
Two incidents that sparked creation of an organization of black parents and students have been "distorted," according to Gereau.
On the accusations against Scruggs, Gereau said:
"This was a very serious charge and one taken seriously by the school system. The allegations were investigated, varying accounts of the incident were obtained, and appropriate action was taken in light of all the information that was available." Because personnel matters are confidential, Gereau said, he could not describe the action taken.
He denied as "irresponsible speculation" rumors that the real reason he closed schools early the day a late-February snow began was to postpone a Black History Month program.
Gereau said concern for getting students home safely across the rural county before the snow fell was the only reason he dismissed schools early. The history program, produced almost entirely by black students, was held later to a standing ovation by black and white students.
The superintendent said that parents have yet to report racial discrimination in the schools to him. "I have yet to get one phone call from one parent, black or white." No parents had asked to meet with him, either, he said.
"I've never turned anybody down" when they asked him to speak to a group, he said.
The organization of black parents and students is set to appear before the School Board on April 19.
Gereau said his staff is working on a proposal he'll take to the board for creation of a biracial commission of parents who would analyze how the schools can foster racial, religious and multicultural understanding.
A year ago, Gereau and other school officials contracted with a Virginia Commonwealth University psychologist to give sensitivity training to school staffs and to help work it into school curricula for every grade.
Gereau said he's been through three days of the training, and he hopes that all of his 780 employees will have it eventually.
Gereau, 58, a former New York state education official, said that right after he became Franklin County's superintendent in 1984, he distributed materials on cultural diversity and black history for all grades. "You need to infuse black history year-round. It shouldn't just be done in a 28- or 29-day month," he said, referring to February, Black History Month.
Gereau insisted that Franklin County people are no more prejudiced than anyone else. In fact, he said, they are less so than people in some communities he used to visit in his home state of New York.
He said it was ironic that while his schools were dealing with talk of tension, he was in Ireland and England, hearing about the religious bigotry and warfare that has continued there for centuries.