— The Limestone County Board of Education heard from the NAACP Tuesday concerning the transfer of a student. 

The NAACP brought concerns before the board after receiving written complaints from a parent concerning harassment of her 12-year-old at Ardmore High School.

Wilbert Woodruff, president of the Limestone County chapter of the NAACP, said during a five-minute statement to board members that the harassment of the student included being called racial slurs and several threats to fight after school.

On Sept. 5, Woodruff said an assault by a 17-year-old on the 12-year-old occurred on the school bus and that a police report was filed. Other older students were also a part of the ongoing harassment. The complaint also indicted that the student and his younger sibling were made to feel uncomfortable and at times even intimidated by teachers during classroom instruction.

Woodruff said the first thing the parent did was ask for the immediate transfer of the children from the school.

During a special-called school board meeting last week, board members split over a recommendation to transfer the student after Superintendent Dr. Tom Sisk asked the board to approve the transfer.

Before the vote, Sisk told board member he recommended transferring the student in the best interests of the health and safety of the student and the family.

Board member Earl Glaze questioned the recommendation during the meeting, saying he had heard that the incident was actually caused by the student seeking the transfer.

Sisk replied during the meeting that had his recommendation been based on the incident on the bus he would have agreed to leave the child where he was. However, he said, his recommendation was based on the student’s file and statements from the student and his family.

The NAACP said Tuesday that the request for the transfer was met with unnecessary detainment. Woodruff added that the 12-year-old, who he said is almost a straight “A” student with no history of behavioral problems was revictimized by statements made by Glaze. Glaze was absent from the meeting Tuesday.

“Particular caution should be taken when it comes to public statements; especially when by Mr. Glaze’s own admission, he did not have all the information,” said Woodruff. “The parent and grandparent of the victim had to listen to the misinformation during the special called board meeting waiting for the vote to allow the transfer.”

Woodruff pointed out that the students were uprooted from the school — at the point of settling in —out of necessity for their safety and not for their wrong behavior.

Woodruff said the NAACP’s first concern is for the existence of a highly effective learning environment for all students free of harassment, intimidation and bullying of any sort by other students or by any school personnel.

He added no one in the school system should take complaints of harassment, intimidation or bullying lightly.

Woodruff commended Sisk for recommending the hardship transfer and members of the board who voted in favor of it.

However, he said there was much more to be done, adding that an investigation by the NAACP revealed problems at Ardmore High School including the violation of Alabama laws pertaining to education,  the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and possibly Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  Woodruff said he provided details of the investigation to the board and added that if it were unacceptable, the NAACP would ask them to seek an independent outside investigation that is acceptable to all parties.

“Our findings in this matter warrant our continued attention and monitoring for the appropriate discipline for all offenders including school personnel,” Woodruff said. “We are willing to work with all concerned to make necessary changes.” He added they will continue to support the victims and their family and are determined to do whatever necessary to ensure the safety of all students in Limestone County.

Woodruff asked that the superintendent and board respond to the NAACP in a timely manner.

There was no discussion following his address.