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Message from the Superintendent – Racist incident at last night’s Varsity basketball game


Posted Date: 01/22/2024

Dear Fairport community,

The contents of the message are also copied below.

Thank you,

Brett Provenzano
Superintendent of Schools

 



Good afternoon, Victor and Fairport communities,

We are writing to inform you of a racially-charged situation that occurred at the Victor/Fairport Boys Varsity Basketball game on Wednesday evening.

We were informed that a section of VSHS students made racially offensive noises while a Black Fairport student was shooting foul shots.

After school officials from both Districts reviewed the video and spoke to individuals from both Victor and Fairport, it became clear that the actions by the VSHS student cheer section were extremely hurtful to the individual that was targeted and his teammates. The instigators’ actions also had a far-reaching impact within the Fairport school community, including classmates, staff and spectators. We encourage anyone who has been impacted by this incident to reach out to their network of support.

This incident and the resulting harm goes against the core values of both the Victor and Fairport School Districts. There are no excuses for this behavior. All forms of hate are unacceptable and violate not only our Districts’ Codes of Conduct, but also the bonds of community and equity that our society so desperately needs.

Both the VCSD and the FCSD know that as school communities, we must continue to do our part to educate, support and restore the historic and current harms done by racism and hate.
We will continue to work in our communities and beyond to address matters when they arise, repair harm when it occurs, and restore relationships when they are broken.

We will learn, we will grow and we will keep our eyes on the future in the belief that our students and our communities deserve a better, safer, more hopeful world.

Sincerely,

Brett Provenzano
Superintendent of Schools, Fairport Central School District

Dr. Timothy Terranova
Superintendent of Schools, Victor Central School District Fairport Central School District