‘Our work continues’

As her senior year comes to a close, one Creston Community High School student approached the board Monday night to share about her experience at CCHS in hopes it will help guide the board in its decision making as it works to create policies addressing racism.

Cassie Ralston, the biracial daughter of Bill and Kathy Ralston, said following a recent incident on campus, which her parents felt it was serious enough to report, she felt like many times before, it would be swept under the rug. She described this as “extremely hurtful on many levels.” After her parents met with school administrators, Cassie said she learned of changes to the Creston High School’s code of conduct.

“I went back to school feeling more confident, and I felt like I was just as important as everyone else. And after four years of high school it was the first time I really felt validated,” she said.

Cassie told the board she’s experienced racially-driven incidents on and off campus – in classrooms, hallways, during lunch and sometimes while attending competitions. In the past, as she reported them, she said nothing was every done.

“It was very frustrating to continue to report this poor and racist behavior because it didn’t feel like there was ever any kind of change. It made me feel a sense of resignation, which is not a good place to be,” she said.

Ralston and her mother said the new policies are needed to change the culture of the school and to help improve acceptance and feelings of inclusion.

A parental advocate

Following her daughter’s statement, Kathy Ralston thanked her daughter and school officials for the many wonderful experiences and allies her daughter has found among the high school’s staff.

Kathy Ralston said, as the family prepared to move to Creston eight and a half years ago, they were concerned about the lack of diversity within the Creston community, but that they also saw the potential for growth and progression that Creston held and still holds. As she spoke, she stressed that they were speaking on their own experience as a family within the Creston Community Schools district, but similar experiences are shared by many other students.

“Our purpose tonight is not to make anyone feel defensive or bad, but instead it is to bring awareness and hopefully promote change and support of some of the new policies that we appreciate and are trying, or attempting to show that has made a big difference in the lives of at least one student,” Kathy Ralston said.

Kathy Ralston said upon her daughter’s entrance into her ninth grade year at CCHS, her family was “deeply hurt, frightened and gravely concerned” as Creston students made national headlines, which, while she did not specifically mention it, is in reference to an incident involving a viral photo showing five Creston teenagers wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods, holding rifles and a Confederate flag while standing around a burning cross. She was also concerned about the reactions to that incident by of some community members.

“It was something we had taken for granted before,” said Kathy Ralston. “But we found ourselves questioning our kids. Do they feel safe at school?”

In a conversation with her children, Kathy Ralston said she and her husband were horrified to learn about the racial slurs her children had heard at school, specifically, the use of the N-word, which she said made her “beyond angered and brokenhearted” for what they had exposed their children to. In conversations with a teacher, Kathy Ralston said “inappropriate behavior” was confirmed by a teacher and she asked that her daughter’s seat be moved as far away as possible from those four students who used the racial slur.

At the time of the incident in Cassie’s classroom, her mother said there were no policies in place regarding use of racial slurs. This morning, when asked for clarification or information on any new policies in place at the high school, Principal Messerole said there are no new policies, however, the school has reviewed with the Ralston family what is done when incidents of racism happen and are reported, but no further information was provided.

Kathy Ralston said, periodically her daughter asks her parents to “forget it” and to not escalate issues. Ralston said, because of her children’s experiences, they were unsure of their future in Creston. However, her children had a strong desire to stay. For Cassie, the incidents continued.

“Each time, although we felt the administration was working diligently, we left disappointed and felt more and stronger policies needed to be implemented in our public school to make it clear to students and adults alike, that this is a public place and needed to be physically and emotionally safe for all,” Kathy Ralston said.

Several weeks ago, Kathy Ralston said they again found themselves in a position advocating on behalf of their daughter, who reported another incident but wanted nothing to do with the administrative process and asked her parents to forget it. However, since the incident was reported to administrators by the teacher, it opened up yet another conversation with the family, which gave them the opportunity to discuss it further.

“It was during this meeting that we learned of Mr. Messerole’s and Mr. Driskell’s administration had implemented specific and punitive consequences for using racial and ethic and other slurs. ... We were so elated to hear these measures had been taken,” she said.

Kathy praised Messerole and Driskell for working to change the culture at the high school and reminded the board that they can not do it alone.

“The behaviors that occur at the high school develops well before students enter their doors. This means intervention at the elementary and middle school levels is also needed,” said Kathy.

Kathy suggested that intervention (on diversity, equity and inclusion) start in elementary and middle schools, which board member Terry Freeman agreed with in a statement he made toward the end of the board meeting. Ralston also offered the following suggestions – continuation of subconscious bias training for all staff members, consider recruitment of diverse staff members, and the deconstruction and rebuilding of community groups that lack diverse representation to see where bias may be.

In a follow up email this morning, Stender shared that the district requires all employees to participate in bias training and continues to review its practices and policies to support a respectful environment and live experience.

Kathy said, while diversity has increased in Creston in the years her family has lived here, she said it’s time for the community to be more intentional about creating change.

“As adults, as leaders, as teachers and administrators, if we are looking at our spheres of influence and seeing that we are participating in groups or part of groups, which year after year are only composed of white members, then there is a problem.”

Board response

As he started his superintendent’s report, Deron Stender took a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the community members that do take the opportunity to share their views and concerns with the school board and administration.

“We all have the same goal in mind. We can always do better,” he said.

Creston School Board President Galen Zumbach said he assumed it’s a small group involved and asked Stender if this is the first time he has heard of the incidents. Stender responded by saying it’s happening and that administrators are trying to identify where it is happening other than times when incidents are reported.

“If it’s not reported, we don’t really know that it’s happening,” he said.

“I’ve taught at the school system for 33 years and I’ve never witnessed anything of the sort. Now I’m sure it’s happening but I have not heard anything ... this is kind of out of the dark,” said Zumbach. “It may be something that we need to discuss, but I guess I just need a lot more information about what has supposedly transpired, when, and maybe people that are involved, what the ramifications were. I’m just very curious. If we’re going to set policy, we need to know where the problem is.”

Stender responded to Zumbach by saying, while he knew of incidents during his tenure at Creston, he did not involve the board as they would be the “final arbitrator” of things that go above him.

“So when an issue’s not resolved by a principal and they come to me, ... and it’s not resolved by me, then it comes to you,” Stender said. “If I share too much information about everything then you will have, you know, ... you will have a biased opinion in making that decision.”

Zumbach said learning about Cassie’s experience is like “being struck by a rainstorm without an umbrella.”

“I have no concept about what this is all about,” Zumbach said. “I have heard nothing.”

Stender said he plans on meeting with the Ralston family today and said he hopes to gather more information from community members and students that have relevant experience that can help better guide the district’s policy and decision-making.

“I’m aware of the situations that have happened in my time here and I know Mr. Driskell and all administrators at all levels have done a good job at working with our students, first of all, and also making those connections with our parents who have concerns about what’s happening in our district. So, our work continues on that ... .”