Parents: Bellevue West students protesting school’s handling of teacher’s racial slur

BELLEVUE, Neb. (WOWT) - Police were called to Bellevue West High School on Monday morning after a group of students initiated a protest inside the school over a teacher’s use of a racial slur last week, parents told 6 News.

The protest is a result of the school’s response — or lack thereof, according to some parents — to the actions of a Bellevue West teacher last week who was accused of using a racial slur while in an argument with a student.

Parents said up to 40 students were involved in a sit-in protest; 6 News saw police vehicles parked outside the school Monday morning.

In a statement to families, Bellevue Public Schools says the police were called after the protest allegedly turned disruptive.

“While the student situation at Bellevue West today began peacefully, it did turn disruptive and we placed the school in Hold briefly while staff and Law Enforcement mitigated the situation. We support our students in their rights to respectfully have a voice and we take all student concerns very seriously. We value providing an open and inclusive environment; and know we can always learn from situations such as this.”

One parent told 6 News last week that he had received a call after school that day from his daughter, a junior at the school, saying she had witnessed her science teacher repeat the slur several times in class and in the hallway. He said he had spoken with the school principal and received an apology and was told the school had handled the matter how they saw fit.

When asked about the incident last week, Bellevue Public Schools provided this short statement:

“While this is a personnel matter and the district can not discuss personnel matters — Bellevue Public Schools does not condone the use of racial slurs in any manner or environment from students or staff.”

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