Parent tells board child was called a racial slur at LIS and asks for staff training and action

During public comment, Jolitha, a parent of two district students, told the board her 9-year-old was called a racial slur at Lawrence Intermediate School and said attempts to get resolution from the principal and assistant principal were unsuccessful.

Jolitha said she learned about the incident when she picked up her younger child and that the school’s responses left the family unsatisfied. "When your child decides to come out their face and call my son a ******, and he and his friends take it to the principal, the assistant principal, and nothing gets done about it," she said. She urged the district to provide whatever staff training is needed "to help protect these babies."

Board members responded in the meeting that they would follow up. A board member said the district would pursue next steps and that "Mackenzie will get back to you," indicating Mackenzie Kelly would contact the parent. One board member offered a personal assurance they would connect with her.

The transcript records no formal disciplinary outcome, no named administrator response with detail about any investigation, and no specific timeline for follow-up beyond the pledge that board staff would return contact. The board’s public-record materials and subsequent communications (including any formal response or action plan) would be the appropriate place to confirm what, if any, investigation or staff training is implemented.