An elementary school in South Carolina is under scrutiny after photos of staff wearing “Border Patrol” T-shirts at a Hispanic heritage celebration event surfaced on the district’s Facebook page. The Royall Elementary School staff members in the photos have been fired or put on administrative leave, as confirmed by Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Dr. Richard O’Malley in a letter.
The images posted by Florence 1 Schools, which have since been removed, depicted two staff members sporting gray “Border Patrol” T-shirts during the event. Another picture showed staff members donning sombreros and standing in front of a red brick wall with a “Royall Cantina” sign.
Following the controversial social media posts, several employees at Royall Elementary School are no longer working at the school, and there have been changes in school leadership, according to district administrators. O’Malley addressed the issue and stated that an investigation is ongoing.
In a statement, O’Malley expressed his disappointment with the situation and emphasized that such actions do not reflect the values of the school, its students, or the district. He made it clear that there is no place for such behavior in schools and that he will not tolerate it.
The superintendent also reached out to parents in the school district to inform them about the incident and the actions taken in response. He mentioned that some employees have been terminated or placed on leave due to the seriousness of the matter.
Additionally, O’Malley announced that the district’s assistant superintendent of elementary education and STEM director will be stepping in as acting administrators. Royall Elementary School also issued a statement apologizing for the insensitivity displayed in the photos.
The school expressed regret for the lack of sensitivity shown towards the challenges faced by the Hispanic population. Royall Elementary emphasized its commitment to embracing and supporting every student, celebrating diversity, and ensuring the success and recognition of each student’s unique culture and abilities.
As the new school year begins, Royall Elementary School looks forward to building stronger relationships with its students and families. The school’s Facebook post containing the apology has disabled comments, indicating a desire to move forward positively from the incident.
