Mason school board to hold first meeting since ‘lynch’ comment

The first meeting of the Mason school board in the wake of a racial incident that drew national attention will take place Tuesday evening.

This news organization will attend the meeting tonight for coverage of the governing board for the 10,400-student school system.

The preliminary agenda for the meeting has no listed items that directly address the incident that came to light earlier this month and drew nationwide media attention.

Each public board meeting, however, allows a portion of its proceedings for public comment. Board members are also free to comment on whatever issues they desire to address.

The public segment of the Mason Board of Education meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mason High School’s Harvard Room, 6100 South Mason-Montgomery Road.

The controversial exchange with the student, which occurred in December, involved a white, Mason Middle School teacher telling an African-American student his classmates would “lynch” him if he didn’t complete his school work.

The 22-year-veteran teacher - Renee Thole – apologized to the student and later to his mother.

She was first reprimanded by Mason district officials, then after days of public outcry – and recommendations from the boy’s mother – she was ordered on administrative leave by the same officials until she completed a racial and cultural sensitivity training course.

Mason officials have apologized for the incident and vowed to boost existing racial and cultural education programs as well as create new, diversity outreach efforts in Warren County’s largest school system.

“Some have called for this teacher to be immediately fired and banned from ever teaching again,” said Mason Schools Superintendent Gail Kist-Kline in a public message released last week.

“We understand and respect the passion of these viewpoints. The teacher has been disciplined. She is required to take further training to learn from this troubling mistake. And our school district will do more to help educators make their classrooms more inclusive and equitable by providing training on how to combat bigotry and bias,” said Kist-Kline.

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