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By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008
A study hall monitor at Highland High School in Medina County has been placed on paid administrative leave after being accused of using racial slurs in a conversation with students.
Principal Daryl Kubilus Jr. called the incident ''a most unfortunate situation.
''Nothing like this has ever happened before involving a staff member or has ever been brought to my attention,'' he said.
The suspended monitor, Renee Lewandowski, has been a teacher's aide at the school for two years. She could not be reached for comment. Messages left on an answering machine this week were not returned.
The incident was reported by Russell James, 15, a freshman from Sharon Center and one of only a handful of minority students at the school.
Of the 1,046 students at Highland, fewer than 1 percent are black. The school has no minority teachers.
Russell said he used to enjoy study hall, when he and fellow students would discuss the world outside of school.
Lewandowski often joined the talks at their table in the school cafeteria, he said.
''I enjoyed her company,'' Russell said, ''and valued her opinions on world and local topics.''
But last week when the seven students at the table started talking about a white hockey coach working at an inner-city school, Russell said the study hall monitor chimed into the conversation and used a racial epithet.
''She said minorities are the reason majorities have to watch
what they say and do, even though minorities are the ones responsible for all the crime and they're the ones doing all the stupid stuff,'' Russell said.
He said he let her finish her ''tirade'' and excused himself.
''I really didn't know what to say or do,'' the freshman said. ''I went to the restroom for a few minutes to collect my thoughts and to reflect on what just happened, then went back right before the bell rang and grabbed my books to leave.''
He said a couple of his friends approached him after study hall, also in shock, while others left the room laughing.
''I never heard a teacher use the N-word before,'' Russell said. ''I hear the N-word in the hallways, but never to my face until just a few weeks ago.''
He said one boy called him the racial epithet and then another boy did the same two days later.
Report to counselor
Russell, who has been in the Highland school district since third grade, reported the incident to the school guidance counselor.
''I needed to talk to an adult and put everything on the table,'' he said. ''She suggested I talk to my parents and to the principal.''
Russell did that and Lewandowski was placed on leave while the incident is being investigated.
Principal praises student
Kubilus has known Russell for several years. Before becoming the high school principal, he was an assistant principal at the middle school that Russell attended.
''Russell is a bright, energetic, talented young man with a wonderful disposition,'' he said.
The principal said he has talked with legal counsel about the incident.
''I don't know if anything addresses this in a teacher handbook or document,'' he said, ''but racially insensitive language will not be tolerated here.''
There is no racial sensitivity class or diversity training in the school district, but Kubilus said that might have to be addressed in the near future.
Karla Carruthers, a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Education, said diversity training is not part of the requirements for teacher's aides.
She said she was not aware of any similar incident in Ohio.
''Teachers are usually conscious of racially sensitive matters,'' Carruthers said. ''It's not something teachers do.''
Russell's mother, Minty James, said her son is still upset over what happened. She said when Russell came home from school, he discussed the incident with his father first.
''He knows I would have been at the school that day addressing the issue,'' Minty James said.
She said it was against her judgment to send Russell to Highland. Her older son, Rodney, graduated from the high school last year and also had reservations about his brother going there.
Rodney James, who is now a freshman at Tennessee State in Nashville, said he often heard racial slurs at Highland.
''My freshman and sophomore years were the worst,'' he said.
Minty James said she let Russell make the decision to go to Highland.
''He wanted to go to the school,'' she said. ''He wanted to be with his friends, a group of boys he's been close to for years. They all grew up together.''
Russell said when he hears students using slurs, he blames their racial intolerance on ignorance. But teachers and staff members, he said, must be held to a different standard.
''It has prepared me for the real world,'' he said of the incident. ''People don't sugarcoat everything in life.''
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
A study hall monitor at Highland High School in Medina County has been placed on paid administrative leave after being accused of using racial slurs in a conversation with students.
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