The Elkhart Truth
The parents of a Concord Intermediate School student in Indiana pulled their daughter out of school in the middle of the school year after she received a series of threatening notes believed to be from other students, The Elkhart Truth reports. In one note retrieved on Monday, March 16, NyZeria Neely is called a “n-gger” and told that she “doesn’t belong” at the school, where just under 10 percent of the student body is Black. One week prior to receiving the shocking note, Neely received another, which read: “Watch your back.”
While Neely, who is the only Black student in her high-ability class at Corncord, admits that she initially thought about crumpling up the note, she thought better and showed it to a teacher and Principal Chad Stamm. Neely recalls it being an awkward experience because school administrators didn’t seem to understand the severity of what had occurred and how it made her feel.
“He told me not to worry because it’s just words,” NyZeria said of Stamm. “But it’s more than words. I felt that it was offensive, very offensive.”
Superintendent Wayne Stubbs claims that the school is taking the threats very seriously and that the situation is being thoroughly investigated.
“Concord schools finds these situations to be very offensive and unacceptable in our schools, “ Stubbs said in an email. “Our building administrators take them seriously, as student safety is always our number one priority.”
However, Neely’s mom and dad are not convinced. Avonn Pratcher and Gina Neely showed up to Concord Intermediate School last Monday with a sign that read: “STOP BULLYING OUR CHILDREN.”
Unfortunately, the gesture seemed to backfire. Following a heated conversation with the school’s staff, Neely’s parents were issued a no-trespass order by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.
“We need something to be done about it,” said Pratcher. “We want a public apology. I want them to apologize to my daughter.”
The family is considering transferring Neely to Elkhart schools where at least 15 percent of the student population is Black.
“It’s kind of sad because I’m leaving all of my good friends behind, but I’m kind of happy to go to Elkhart schools. I’ve always wanted to go there,” said Neely.
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