My Destinee' Sweet attends Northwood Academy. On yesterday 11/4/2020 my 12 year old daughter was a…read moreVictim of Extreme and Excessive Racial Bullying. Three Caucasian boys in her 7th grade class called her "Nigger" MULTIPLE times! She is the only African American student in the class. She along with other students who witnessed this disgusting act of racism told the teachers Mrs. Harbor and Mr. White who reported the boys to the principal immediately! The principal Mr. Combs called my husband's phone and stated in a voicemail "I'm calling to report a situation not a bad one though, we've handled it and all, but 2 boys called your daughter the N word...we've handled it by suspending these boys for 2 days so that they can sit home and think about their behavior they will return to school on the following Tuesday." Issue #1: HE DID NOT CALL THE PRIMARY NUMBER ON THE PROFILE! Which is my number. (843.751.5887) Issue #2: HE THOUGHT AN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT BEING CALLED A "NIGGER" was not a bad situation. Issue #3: Northwood Academy Does not have a 0 tolerance for Racism in place in the student handbook! Issue #4: ONLY 2 days suspension then the boys would be right back in the same classroom with my daughter by next week and subject her to the same acts of racism all over again. Issue #5: Northwood Academy has Administrators who Advocate for Racism and are not able to make sound decisions due to the "Buddy System" that is in place at this Academy. Both Principals at the Upper School allow a personal relationship with one of the violators parent's who also works at the school to avoid handling a very serious situation as if it was a normal situation. When I arrived at the school, the Head Principal Dr. Anderson explained that the boys were written up as a 2nd level offense and that's the highest level of punishment that they could grant these boys who obviously don't see African Americans as their equal. I asked why they were not written up on a 3rd level offense and set for expulsion? Calling someone a "Nigger" multiple times in a room where they are the only African American in the room is a count of racism, extreme bullying, explicit language, major disrespect, and an act to start a racial war and riot. I was told the decision of a 2 day suspension was final and that they (Mr. Combs, Dr. Anderson, and Mr. Evanoff, could NOT move my daughter to another class. When I asked why she had to face her violators for the remainder of the school year I was told, "We should forgive those who sin against us the way that JESUS forgives us for our sins!" The decision for a 2 day OSS was made with no Board Members present. The Director over the school Larry Evanoff stated that he contacted Northwood Academy School Board Members and they made the decision to Expel the violators from the school. This is UNACCEPTABLE and will be handled accordingly. I will make sure News Press in each of our surrounding counties are aware at the Advocacy of Racism that exist within Northwood Academy's administrative staff. I will assure that there is a policy in place at Northwood Academy for 0 tolerance of racism. I will share this issue with my community members and the board of the local charter school in which I am an Executive Board Member of. Darlene Anderson and Curt Combs are good friends of the Mother of one of the boys that violated my daughter, she just so happens to work at Northwood Academy Lower School. This concerns me and will also concern the community. If one of NA students thought that using a racial slur referencing an African American student and racially attacking her over and over again was acceptable, I can only imagine how his Mother feels about her African American students that she teaches at Northwood Academy Lower School. I have witnesses who's children currently attend, attended in the past, and Alumni of Northwood Academy that a 0 tolerance for Racism has never been in the handbook and does not exist within the school. I have had conversations with people of the Northwood Academy Community state that the word "Nigger" is of common use in the classrooms of Northwood Academy. Its been stated that the Principal and Assistant Principal have "swept" these racial issues under the rug for over 30 years. It is time for Northwood Academy to create a culture that is safe for each of it's students by creating an atmosphere with 0 tolerance for racism and get rid of the Racial Advocacy Program within the Administration. Neither of the principals even asked my daughter if she was ok. Instead they sent her back to class with tears in her eyes! She could not escape the bullying. This situation could have been much worse relative to the bullying incident that has caused the death of a student at a school local to Northwood Academy. I Thank God that my daughter is safe and was not harmed by these bullies! Why is Racial Bullying a continuous issue at Northwood Academy? Why has there not been a change after the MULTIPLE

So my son was going to Oaks... and we got sick of the disorganized mess. So far this school has…read morebeen very well organized and we feel much more secure having our baby there. Looking forward to the sports program!