To the Editor:

You might be aware that a story appeared in the March 19, 2015, edition of The Altamont Enterprise, titled “Complaints about racial slurs persist at BKW.”

While the district cannot comment on a specific disciplinary matter concerning students, we can resolutely state that the safety and well being of all Berne-Knox-Westerlo students is always our highest priority. It is our mission to provide an environment that fosters the creative, emotional, intellectual, and physical well being of each student and we will not tolerate the use of racial slurs or any other form of harassment or bullying.

We take the physical and emotional well being of our students very seriously. We want to assure parents that the district promptly investigates any and all allegations of harassment and fully complies with the guidelines set forth by the Dignity for All Students Act signed into law in 2010, and all staff members participate annually in DASA training.

In addition to DASA compliance, the district promotes an atmosphere of respect and tolerance through many school initiatives, including the “Point Break” program, a full-day anti-bullying program in which all ninth-graders participate.

We also promote positive behavior with our “Words Programs” in the secondary school, programs run with the support of the Albany County District Attorney’s Office that recognize good deeds performed by students, and through Positive Behavioral Intervention Strategies, which includes an anti-bullying program for grades K-6 that focuses on expected behaviors and how to be respectful, kind, and caring.

We cannot guarantee that a student will never say or do something to another student that will be disrespectful or inappropriate, but we can guarantee that we have never condoned, nor will we ever condone, such a hateful and hurtful act as using racial slurs or other harmful language toward the children in our care.

As always, if you have any further concerns, please contact the district and they will be addressed.

Dr. Joseph L. Natale

Interim Superintendent

Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District