An independent investigation overturned a school district’s ruling that remarks made by a school band director accused of racism were harmless.
That band director, Robert Perkins, has now resigned from the Wausau School District in Wisconsin, reports The Daily Beast.
“The search for Mr. Perkins’ replacement will begin right away. No other information will be released at this time,” a statement from the district read.
Twan and Manee Vongphakdy filed a formal complaint after they said Perkins directed racist and homophobic remarks at their openly gay Hmong American son, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The district dismissed the complaint saying while the language used was “racist and sexist,” but it did not deem it harassment or discrimination. Following outrage, the district hired an attorney to conduct an independent inquiry which eventually found the district’s findings flawed.
“We finally saw the investigation report, which has corroborated that he’s made racist and homophobic slurs,” Twan Vongphakdy said to the Journa Sentinel. “Witness testimony showed a pattern of behaviors — it was not just one comment, and not just one student witnessed it.”
Twan’s son now feels vindicated and he’s ready to begin a new chapter next semester at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
An investigation by the State Department of Education to determine whether to revoke Perkin’s license is ongoing.
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The school district leaders should all step down or be removed. They did not protect the students. Then they refused to correct such blatant racist and homophobic actions from Robert Perkins or from the other students who blamed the victim. They cannot make good decisions for the school district so they need to be replaced by people who can.