After racially charged graffiti was discovered in an Andrean High School boys bathroom last week, school administrators plan to release findings of their investigation and conduct two sessions for parents.
The graffiti depicted several racial epitaphs and two swastikas, officials said. The school has not identified who drew it, said Andrean Acting Administrator Tony Bonta.
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He said he was notified via email on Dec. 7 about the graffiti — in the last stall of the upstairs bathroom — and it was removed within a day. Since then, he has met with alumni and multiple times with students, including at an assembly late last week.
He said he expected to release the an update on the school’s investigation in a letter to parents by Wednesday.
Administrators want the letter to counter “lies that say we haven’t done anything,” he said. “I’ll be the first one to admit we have challenges. To label Andrean as a racist school is not fair.”
“I’m proud 99 percent of the students I’ve met that would not have … that kind of attitude,” he said.
A statement from the school Wednesday said those responsible for the graffiti could be expelled.
“The Andrean community continues to identify ways we can create opportunities for open dialogue among our students, faculty and staff, as well as other community members. Our top priority is to address this issue using all resources available to us and to combat prejudice at Andrean,” the statement said.
School officials are considering whether to install security cameras near the bathroom’s entrance and will look at adding a diversity organization or training next semester.
School resource officers were notified of the incident, but Bonta said he did not believe the school filed a police report. A forum planned for Wednesday will be followed by another Dec. 20 at the high school.
In February, a group of Andrean students was photographed holding a large Fathead photo of Donald Trump and a sign saying “ESPNDEPORTES,” while chanting “Build a wall!” Bishop Noll Institute fans countered with “You’re a racist!”
Bonta — a 1983 Andrean graduate — said he also held a student assembly when he was appointed as acting administrator seven months ago to address the fallout from that incident.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, which has tracked “bias-related” and hate incidents, reported 867 nationally between Nov. 8 and 29. Just over 20 percent — or 183 — happened in K-12 schools.
Bonta said he could not say if the latest incident fits that pattern.
“I wish I could say that it didn’t happen, but it did,” he said. “I don’t think it’s fair (representation of Andrean) when most find it disgusting and ugly bigotry.”