Dear Fairport students, staff and community members,
I am writing this to shed more light on a situation that has developed over the past week and has affected many of our Fairport students and families.
Yesterday, I sent out a joint message with the Superintendent of the Victor Central School District to bring awareness to a racially-charged incident that happened on Wednesday night at Fairport High School during a Boys Varsity basketball game. In that message, we explained that a section of VSHS students made racially offensive noises while a Black Fairport student was shooting foul shots.
I can’t speak to what has happened in the Victor community since that joint statement was released, but I will speak for the Fairport Central School District.
Our Code of Conduct, Character and Support sets expectations not only for acceptable behavior for our Fairport community members, but also for visitors to our campuses. We will hold everyone on our campuses accountable to these expectations.
Behaviors that degrade and hurt people cannot be explained away or rationalized. There is no place for racism, hate or harassment in our schools and this community. These forces are anathema to the District’s duty to protect, care for and empower the students of Fairport. We are answerable to our students, their families and to our promise to support, challenge and prepare our students for the future.
Today, I stand resolute in the District’s duty of care to our students and community. Harm was done to our students, our staff and spectators at the game. I have seen and heard the evidence of that harm first hand.
We will continue to support the individuals affected and our Fairport school community in the process of healing and growth.
Sincerely,
Brett Provenzano
Superintendent of Schools
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