An unspecified number of employees at Royall Elementary School in South Carolina have been let go or placed on administrative leave following the posting of an “inappropriate” picture during a Hispanic heritage celebration. The photo, which was shared on the school’s Facebook page, quickly sparked outrage and led to swift action by the district.
The controversial image was part of a series posted on Wednesday, showing staff members wearing sombreros and other Hispanic-themed attire. One particularly incendiary photo featured two adults in gray T-shirts that read “U.S. Border Patrol,” which drew immediate backlash from several groups, including the Florence County Democratic Party and the Racial Justice Network.
“There was no regard for the students and how some would feel and what message they were sending to others. We would like to know what the motives behind this were, and did the school hope to gain from this,” stated James Johnson III, founder of the Racial Justice Network.
The school acknowledged the insensitivity of the picture and removed it from its Facebook page the following morning. They also issued an apology, stating, “It is with regret that we acknowledge that a picture that was posted on our Facebook page yesterday showed an insensitive disregard for the current challenges our Hispanic population faces. At Royall, we take great pride in our long-standing tradition of embracing and supporting every student who walks through the doors of our building. Our staff is unanimously committed to celebrating the diversity of our families and ensuring that each and every student at Royall is successful, happy, and recognized for his or her unique culture and abilities. We apologize for our insensitivity but look forward to fostering relationships as we begin a new school year.”
On Friday, Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O’Malley confirmed that disciplinary actions had been taken against those involved in the “inappropriate social media post,” which was taken “during a Professional Development day” at the school. “Several employees are no longer employed by the district or have been placed on leave by the district’s administration,” O’Malley said, told Fox News.
A district spokeswoman told Nexstar’s WBTW that specifics on the number of people disciplined or their employment status could not be provided due to confidential personnel matters.
“As superintendent, I will not tolerate anything of this nature in our school district,” O’Malley emphasized in a letter sent to Royall Elementary families. He assured the community that Michelle Wynn, the district’s assistant superintendent of elementary education, and Christopher Rogers, its STEM director, will serve as “acting administrators.” Despite the controversy, Royall Elementary’s longtime principal Julie Smith’s biography remained on the school’s website as of Sunday morning.
“I want to assure the Royall Community that the school will continue to provide an exceptional education for all students, with the high expectations and excellence in student achievement that have always been provided by our staff at Royall,” O’Malley added.
Additional details were not immediately available. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, about 3% of Florence County’s population is Hispanic or Latino.