October 25, 2024
Dear Maple Run Community,
I am reaching out to share a concerning incident that affects us all. Last night, our Saint Albans Town Education Center (SATEC) playground was vandalized with graffiti, which included inappropriate images and offensive language, including racial and anti-LGBTQ+ slurs. This incident is deeply troubling, as it runs counter to the inclusive, respectful values we hold as a district and as a community.
We apologize for any impact this incident has had on you, your child, or anyone in our community.
Fortunately, a community member quickly alerted us to the graffiti, allowing school staff to remove it before students arrived on campus. We appreciate this timely support, which helped limit exposure to this hurtful material.
Our school security system has helped identify the students responsible for the damage, and we are working directly with them to repair the harm caused. As a district, we see this as a critical learning moment to help these individuals understand the profound impact of their actions on others, especially in regard to respecting racial and LGBTQ+ identities.
This incident reinforces the importance of our ongoing efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and it underscores our commitment to fostering a community rooted in empathy, respect, and accountability. We are dedicated to repairing the harm and rebuilding trust within our school community.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we address this matter and move forward together.
Sincerely,
Bill Kimball
Superintendent of Schools