Weeks after racial tension exploded at Todd Beamer High School, parents and students are still concerned.

Several commented on the matter at a the Federal Way Public Schools board meeting on Tuesday. It was the second time since in recent weeks.

After an officer-involved incident in which a student was apprehended on Oct. 18, the high school’s Black Student Union organized a Black Lives Matter demonstration the following Friday, Oct. 21. Students encouraged each other to wear black to show support and teachers discussed racism in class.

But some students chose not to, associating the incident with the officer to the demonstration (although disagreeing that it was a “race issue”).

One student, in particular, was vocal about her opinions.

Her mother, Angela Wilcox, told the school board those opinions have caused her to be pulled from the school district because she no longer felt safe. According to her, a “mob” of students confronted her daughter about what she said.

“We are living in a world where people are afraid to talk, people are afraid to speak,” Wilcox said. “They’re afraid they’re going to offend someone for having difference of opinion.”

Wilcox’s daughter, Abigale Haynie, sister of the student, also told the board she believes there’s a lack of communication between students, parents and faculty on the issue.

“We all believe everyone should be treated equally,” Haynie said. “God created us all in one mind and body. This does not mean we don’t take into consideration that African Americans have definitely been mistreated in the near past and present because I understand completely that many are mistreated by people…, the fear is understandable, which is wrong because we should not fear the people who are supposed to protect us. Though in most situations and this one included, this entire dispute, I do not believe this was a race problem at all.”

Wilcox and other parents went to media outlets to share their concerns but without all of the facts. In a Nov. 1 letter to parents and staff, district Superintendent Dr. Tammy Campbell said media coverage on the issue was “splintered with truths and painted with distortions and outright inaccuracies.”

Carlene Johnson, who identified herself as a KOMO reporter but said she spoke as a Federal Way resident with children attending Thomas Jefferson and Federal Way Public Academy, responded to that at the board meeting.

“I was insulted by the superintendent’s comments that went out to media, [and am] assuming she was talking about another media organization that must have reported it inaccurately or distorted the truth because I certainly did not,” Johnson said during public comment.

Johnson expressed her frustration with how the district handled her request for more information, eventually circling back to the issue itself and stating she believes the “female who was arrested was abhorrent in her subsequent arrest” and the story “could have been a lesson in how you don’t behave, as a lesson to respect law enforcement.

“Class time shouldn’t be hijacked for lengthy dialogue to promote social agendas, and putting up with constant disruption from out-of-control scholars is nonsense,” she said. “My kids have to put up with it too, and I’m a taxpayer in this district, and I’m sick of it. You’ve got a problem, and restorative circles aren’t going to fix it.”

In an effort to encourage dialogue, the high school held “Titan Talks” Oct. 27-28. Students signed up on a voluntary basis to talk about their perspectives in small groups, and Federal Way Public Schools added more support staff and supervision before, during and after school. Other measures include: a mentoring program, a partnership with an outside educator group to support peer-to-peer leadership, staff and administrative training, an extra security officer, a parent/community forum, and increased communication to parents.

“Schools are a microcosm of a larger society, and as the most diverse district in the state of Washington, this is not the first nor will it be the last time conversations such as race will come up,” Campbell wrote in a letter describing the Titan Talks. “The conversations and issues that arose at Todd Beamer are occurring among our scholars all across the district. We must be prepared to model how to hold these conversations with curiosity and courage.”

Wilcox said the talks “were a waste of time,” reiterating that her daughter was has been “bombarded” by threats.

Other parents, such as Rachel Wolf, hold a different view.

“My family and I moved to Federal Way 13 years ago now for one core purpose: We wanted to raise our family in a diverse environment – not just diverse ethnically but diverse socioeconomically, culturally and with peers who have come to this country recently, have been here for a long time and look very different from myself and my children,” Wolf said. “And, over the years, we have been so rewarded by this choice.”

Wolf said, as a Caucasian family, she wants her children not only to have a voice but to have opportunities to hear from “people who look different from them.”

“We have an opportunity, as parents, students and community members, to lead by example,” she said. “If we can do that in Federal Way, there’s hope for other parts of our country with much more contentious histories.”

Thanking the superintendent and staff for creating these structured opportunities, Wolf also encouraged parents and students to embrace that opportunity.

Once the public comment period ended, it was Campbell’s turn to speak.

“As I have observed the events over the past weeks, I see how important it truly is that we create spaces for our young people and our staff to practice the art of inquiry, dialogue, discourse and understanding of multiple perspectives,” she said. “Our scholars who spoke at our last board meeting modeled this quality. We will not create engaged, empowered, critical thinkers by rumor-mongering, unleashing fears and stereotypes – but only through genuine conversation, reflection and with open minds and hearts.

“Parents, staff and community, I challenge you to meet this moment.”

Federal Way Public Schools district office. File photo