On June 8, 2026, a mother spoke at the D303 School Board meeting on the daily racial harassment that their biracial 12-year-old daughter must face at a D303 school.
Mrs. Erica Johnson, who is white, and accompanied by her husband, Mr. Richard Johnson, who is black, spoke of what their child must endure every day as well as the lack of response by the school and School Board to stop this racial bullying.
Since their daughter’s first day in Wredling Middle School in 6th Grade, she has withstood an almost daily and relentless cycle of racial bullying which began with a racial slur written in the bathroom stall. The toll it has taken on their daughter has been heartbreaking, with emotional and other effects that would leave any parent stunned and speechless.
To what verbiage and action has she suffered?
- “the “N” word in hallways and classrooms”
- “boys making whipping sounds”
- “she has been called a monkey, and a black monkey”
Mrs. Johnson then recalled incidents that went unchecked:
For 4 weeks, their daughter repeatedly heard racial slurs aimed at her, and when she reported them to her teacher, her teacher’s response was “maybe they were just trying to have a little fun…. maybe you should just space it out”.
A boy approached their daughter, and while staring her down, made whipping sounds. The Social Worker who spoke with her told her that “she (SW) could see both sides…...the boy probably just didn’t know what he was doing was racist”.
Another boy yelled a racial slur at her in the hallway; this time the Dean reviewed the video and “dismissively” said to their daughter “well, he didn’t turn his head when he passed you in the hallway, so this was not directed at you……don’t you feel better?”
Mrs. Johnson than went on to say the when “when teacher’s minimize racism as fun, and staff look for both sides of a racial slur, and Dean’s and Administrators look to protect the system instead of the victim, the district is complicit……Dr. Gordon, the School Board Superintendent, has stated “we have built something excellent in D303” but our daughter has been brave enough to stand up and report how the exact opposite happens”.
She continued with suggestions to improve the situation with enforcement of strict uniform protocols for racial discrimination and bullying, and the education of teachers and Administration in how to handle racial bullying, including:
-Immediate reporting of incidents
-Immediate investigation of said incidents
-Immediate parental notification
-Immediate and mandatory student safety plan
Mrs. Johnson ended with “teachers like her health teacher who doubled down and did nothing for weeks must face professional consequences for failing to maintain a safe classroom”.
Mrs. Johnson’s sister, and aunt to their daughter, then spoke in support of her niece, both as a family member, and as a 28 year educator in another district.
The section of the video which begins this subject matter starts at 59:33
Click here for video:
https://youtube.com/live/AduUrLJmVQs?feature=shared
