Today- we confirmed that district leadership, at the direction of Superintendent Larry Hook, approved painting over the student-painted diversity and inclusion mural at Nagel. We are told from a reliable source who spoke with Superintendent Hook, that he admitted responsibility for painting over the mural as well as responsibility for the initial act to hide the mural with a banner.
This action appears to have been taken without a single effort of transparency toward the community, acknowledgment of the many parents that requested meetings, students that sent emails and residents that left voicemail recordings asking for the mural to remain visible.
A statement that the action taken by Mr. Hook and encouraged by the board negatively impacts students doesn’t go far enough – and many feel that this act by the leadership is a betrayal. Many have conveyed to us that they feel compelled to take action to share their frustration with the dismal direction district leadership has taken, since the “Culture of Kindness” resolution was first passed as the central tenet and vision of the “4 for Forest Hills” board members.
Initially, the district told us that the location choice for the banner to promote the new district culture initiative was selected by the consulting company because it was a high traffic area and the fact that it covered the diversity mural was simply a careless mistake that they did not believe would have such an impact. The also said that they also did not feel compelled to correct the mistake. Administrators claimed they would find other ways to memorialize the mural, and we believed they had genuine intent to do so.
It has since been clarified that this act of ‘carelessness’ was not an oversight, but instead a calculated act of cruelty against the students represented in the mural and the artists who painted the mural. Superintendent Hook and others within the administration have clearly demonstrated that their actions were done to appease members of the board.
Members of AdvocateFHSD.org and extended supporters are coordinating multiple actions at this time to reinforce support for all students, but most importantly we are calling now for the district to issue a definitive statement of support for diversity and support for the communities represented in the mural. We are asking the district to replace the mural with a banner of the same size in a high-visibility and meaningful location.
In the coming days, it is imperative that vulnerable students and members of the community know that many in Forest Hills accept them for who they are without qualification. Superintendent Hook claims in his own words that “Culture isn’t what hangs on the wall … there is no such thing as a culturally neutral attitude. It’s about what you practice, promote, and permit.” And Superintendent Hook apparently not only permitted the erasure of images of acceptance, but he also promoted it.
Our efforts to ensure students and neighbors understand they matter will include increasing the visibility of supportive imagery and messaging. We are buying stickers of the mural to be shared to promote visible acknowledgment of the artwork itself. We are working with local shops to print & distribute tee shirts for all (we won’t handle the transactions, it is not our intention to profit from this in any financial way) and, we will continue to encourage everyone within the community to engage respectfully with our neighbors and only take constructive actions that demonstrate support of a welcoming community. This list is not comprehensive, and we will share more in the next few days.
If you are inclined to act, start at home and with neighbors, discuss your position of support for the many cultures and identities within our community. Share with them the news about the banner and let them know an election is nearing where they too can have their values represented. Consider attending & speaking up at the school board meeting in two weeks. Write an email or call the district to ask them for the statement of support. Volunteer and vote for the school board candidates that will be on the ballot this November that align to your values. If you are a parent of a student, sign up to volunteer at the schools and show support for all students. Donate to student clubs that support various student interests. Wherever you are in the community, post your signs and flags celebrating diversity within the community. Consider wearing buttons or tee shirts that support people of color, neurodivergence, various religious beliefs and acceptance of all to remind students that there are more people in this community who accept them for their authentic identities than those that don’t – and while we may never live in a community that is free of discrimination and hate, we don’t have to stand silently by, but we can demonstrate that hate has no home here.
See you at the board meeting.
