UPDATE: Sept. 23, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
The NAACP Belmont County Chapter and St. Clairsville-Richland City School District issued this joint statement Friday on the high school principal’s alleged use of a racial slur while meeting with students on Thursday:
“Yesterday, the St. Clairsville-Richland City School District learned that the High School Principal met with students, and their conversation concerned the use and impact of inappropriate language – specifically, the use of racial slurs in music. During the conversation, the High School Principal repeated the inappropriate word. The District does not condone the use of that word regardless of why it is said. It is inappropriate and offensive. As the District continues to review the matter, there will be extensive reflection and discussion on the use and impact of words and their meaning.
The district met with members of the Belmont County Chapter of the NAACP today. We are working closely with their officers and executive board to resolve the situation. Our goal is to implement sensitivity training for all of our staff and students so that we can prevent incidence from occurring in the future.”
St. Clairsville, OH (WTRF) — “This is madness,” said Jerry Moore II, with the Belmont County chapter of the NAACP.
“I was shocked,” said Moore. “I was shocked that someone in an authoritative role, such as a high school principal, used what the government uses as hate speech.”
In an audio recording posted on social media, you can hear what allegedly sounds like St. Clairsville Principal Justin Sleutz utter a racial slur to a room with others whose identities are unknown to the public.
Moore describes the word as what kids call “the hard R.”
The recording gained traction on Facebook Thursday night, but Moore says no formal complaint has yet been filed with the NAACP.
7NEWS reached out to the St. Clairsville-Richland City School District for comment. The District released a statement to us Friday morning that gives more context:
“Yesterday, the St. Clairsville-Richland City School District learned that the High School Principal met with students, and their conversation concerned the use and impact of inappropriate language – specifically, the use of racial slurs in music. During the conversation, the High School Principal repeated the inappropriate word. The District does not condone the use of that word regardless of why it is said. It is inappropriate and offensive. As the District continues to review the matter, there will be extensive reflection and discussion on the use and impact of words and their meaning.”
St. Clairsville-Richland City School District
If a complaint is filed, the NAACP Belmont County Chapter would be given the go-ahead to investigate the recording and interview both sides.
An investigation could lead to recommending certain “remedies” for the school board to follow, such as a public apology or sensitivity training.
“There’s a thousand other things this man could have said,” said Moore. “Innocence of the children is at stake.”
Moore wants students to know that anyone who writes a complaint will remain confidential.
Stay with 7NEWS for updates.