ST. LOUIS - (KMOX) Administrators and teachers have received death threats, security personnel have been hired and metal detectors installed. And now a profanity-riddled voice message is causing fear among some Rockwood School District parents and students, leading into the school board meeting Thursday night.
KMOX gained exclusive access to a voicemail left for Rockwood administration. We've had to bleep out large portions of the recording because of extreme profane language:
Like many districts nationwide, Rockwood is trying to implement a more inclusive curriculum and close racial disparities in discipline and test scores. Opponents argue the courses amount to reverse discrimination by shaming white teachers and students.
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Rockwood REAL, a group of parents in the district, is working for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. One of those parents Shemia Reese says tonight's meeting is a chance to come together and find a resolution.
"What I hope doesn't happen is that things get out of hand," Reese says. "We have a bunch of hurting people. You have administration that's been hurt, teachers who've been hurt. You have community members who have been hurt. You have a broken community right now."
Another parent, Christy Horton, says what she once felt as her community.
"I sometimes wonder if there's a place for my family," Horton says. "I'm a white mom of a Black child and I'm finding this district exhausting."
Reese says "people are fighting for what they think is best, nobody is listening."
Neither Horton or Reese know what to expect at tonight's school board meeting.
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