U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest | U.S. Department of Justice
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with the Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District (EMUU) in Vermont following an investigation into racial harassment among students. The investigation, carried out by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, found that the district did not adequately address serious harassment faced by Black and biracial students at Peoples Academy Middle Level.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, "Racial harassment makes students feel unsafe, deprives them of a supportive educational environment and violates the Constitution’s most basic promise of equal protection." She emphasized that no student should endure racial slurs or racially charged hostilities in today's world. The agreement aims to implement strategies to prevent and address such harassment.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest highlighted the significance of this settlement in ensuring a safe school environment free from racial harassment. He noted that it serves as a guide for swift responses to any future incidents and called on all Vermont school administrators to heed this example.
The investigation began in December 2023 under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, reviewing records from three school years starting with 2021-22. The district cooperated fully and has already taken steps like adopting a central reporting system for tracking incidents.
Under the agreement, EMUU will revise its anti-harassment policies to cover conduct contributing to a hostile environment even if not directed at specific individuals. It will also conduct annual campus climate assessments and educate both students and staff on handling race-based harassment.
Protecting public-school students' constitutional rights remains a priority for the Civil Rights Division. More information can be found on their website along with details about reporting civil rights violations.
