The Justice Department's investigation into the Carroll ISD in Southlake is getting an assist from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The NAACP LDF filed an administrative complaint against the school district with the Department of Education, whose office of civil rights last year launched a civil rights investigation into the district.
There have been racial and homophobic slurs levied against our clients," says Antonio Ingram, assistant counsel with the NAACP LDF. "There have been acts of physical violence and harassment. This is not just sort of run-of-the-mill bullying. It is discrimination on the basis of their race and gender."
Ingram says despite being aware of the incidents, district officials have done little to address them.
Related
"Leadership at the Carroll Independent School District was on notice and aware of all these incidents that we chronicled in our complaint and have done nothing to address these issues or to provide remedy to help the students have a more safe and secure learning environment," says Ingram.
The Department of Education's probe into the Carroll ISD has been criticized by Mayor John Huffman; and Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, whose district includes Southlake, has launched an investigation into the investigation along with senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz.
The NAACP LDF is asking for a series of remedies.
"We would like for there to be an implementation of a diversity and inclusion director," says Ingram. "We would like for there to be a culturally responsive curriculum (and) culturally competent counseling."
Late last year, after Andrew Yeager was sworn in as a Carroll ISD trustee, the board killed off the district's cultural compentence action plan, which was developed after a video surfaced of students shouting racial slurs.
Ingram is also calling for the district to create a discrimination grievance process.
"Students who were being discriminated on the basis of their gender, sexual orientation or race can actually levy their complaints to an administrator and have a responsive action taken," says Ingram.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD