La Plata High School JROTC cadets found a Confederate flag hanging from the school’s main flagpole Thursday morning.
School administrators were notified and the flag was removed. Police believe the flag was hung late last night.
"The isolated incident at La Plata does not reflect the values and beliefs of the school system. CCPS supports a diverse school community where differences among both students and staff are celebrated and valued. CCPS students and staff should feel safe and welcomed in schools, not fearful, angry or sad," the school system said in a statement.
CCPS says it is providing additional support for La Plata students and staff, and La Plata administrators will continue to discuss the incident with students.
Superintendent of Schools Maria Navarro said Thursday's incident is disturbing and asks for the support of parents, students, staff and community members to ensure incidents such as this do not happen again.
“This cowardly act will not deter us from providing safe, welcoming environments for the children, teens and adults who come to our schools every day to teach and to learn. This incident will serve as a teachable moment. It must teach our children and ourselves that we as a school system and as a community will not tolerate symbols of hate, and we won’t allow hate to gain a foothold in our school system,” Navarro said.
Charles County Public Schools sent a letter to students, parents and staff to address the issue. In the letter, the district referenced images of the flag being shared on social media, and says the incident is particularly disturbing coming on the heels of the racially-motivated shooting in Buffalo, N.Y.
You can read the full letter below:
I want to alert you to an incident that La Plata High School is investigating. This morning, our JROTC cadets found a confederate flag hanging from our main school flagpole. The cadets discovered this as they were attempting to raise our flags for the school day. We immediately notified our building services staff who quickly removed the flag. School administrators have since learned that students are sharing images on social media of the flag after it was hung. We are investigating the incident, including reviewing school camera footage and talking with students who may have information about the incident. Our school resource officer is assisting with the investigation.
At La Plata High School, we support all students and a diverse school community. What we do not support is the unauthorized access of school property and the hanging of a confederate flag from the school flagpole. That symbol of hate does not reflect who we are as a La Plata High School community. This behavior will not be tolerated nor should it be celebrated by young adults on social media. The incident is especially disturbing following events that took place last weekend in Buffalo, N.Y.
Please talk with your child about the incident and report to an administrator if you have any information about those responsible for this action. Any student found to be involved in this incident faces school disciplinary actions outlined in the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Code of Student Conduct as well as possible charges by police. I ask that you monitor your child’s electronic devices to see what content they are creating, accessing and/or sharing with others, and talk to them about spreading inappropriate posts among their peers. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at ddolan@ccboe.com.
Sincerely, Douglass Dolan Principal
CCPS asks that anyone with information about this incident report it to Jason Stoddard, CCPS director of school safety and security, at jstoddard@ccboe.com, or call the Charles County’s Sheriff’s Office at 301-932-2222.