An elementary school in South Carolina is facing intense backlash after images of staff wearing “Border Patrol” T-shirts surfaced on the district’s Facebook page. The incident occurred at Royall Elementary School during a Hispanic heritage celebration event, and the controversial photos have led to the firing or suspension of the staff involved.
The images, posted by Florence 1 Schools and now taken down, showed two staff members wearing gray “Border Patrol” T-shirts. Another photo depicted staff members in sombreros and other themed attire, standing in front of a red brick wall with a “Royall Cantina” sign. The images were deemed highly inappropriate and sparked outrage within the community.
Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley addressed the issue in a statement, confirming that an investigation was underway. “I was notified by my staff of an inappropriate social media post on one of our school’s Facebook accounts. What was posted, and the conduct of the staff involved, is inexcusable and not a representation of the school, its students and staff, or of our district as a whole,” O’Malley wrote.
In a letter to all parents and guardians in the school district, which was also shared with Fox News Digital, O’Malley further elaborated on the situation. “Dear Royall Parents and Guardians, As you may be aware, an inappropriate event occurred Wednesday morning during a Professional Development day at Royall, prior to the first day of school. Subsequently, pictures of the event were posted on the school’s Facebook page. I wanted to inform you that, due to the serious nature of this incident, several employees are no longer employed by the district or have been placed on leave by the district’s administration. As superintendent, I will not tolerate anything of this nature in our school district,” the letter reads.
O’Malley announced that the district’s assistant superintendent of elementary education and its STEM director would temporarily serve as acting administrators.
Royall Elementary School issued its own statement, acknowledging the insensitivity of the images and apologizing to the community. The school’s apology post on Facebook has since had comments turned off to prevent further backlash.
The incident has ignited discussions about cultural sensitivity and appropriate conduct within educational environments. Many parents and community members are calling for more comprehensive cultural sensitivity training for school staff to prevent similar incidents in the future. The school district’s prompt action in addressing the issue reflects a commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment for all students and staff.