PERRYSBURG —A swastika was reportedly drawn over a pride flag in a Perrysburg High School classroom last week.
In an email to the community, Superintendent Tom Hosler said that the hate symbol was drawn on a cork board that had painted on it an image of a pride flag.
The classroom where this occurred is occupied by a staff member who is Jewish.
“It is heartbreaking to share this news but it is important for us as a school community to be transparent about the incident, publicly state there is no tolerance for this behavior, support our staff member and work collectively to confront hate whenever and wherever it reveals itself,” Hosler said.
In following the school district’s policies, school administration immediately began an investigation, working with the school resource officer, and discovered the identity of the student who vandalized the classroom.
The district will not disclose further information, Hosler said, due to privacy laws. The police are involved, he said.
“I am deeply saddened by what happened and am discouraged by the actions of this individual,” Hosler said. “We as a school community work very hard to take steps to ensure all students achieve their greatest potential. We strive to do our very best to create an environment that is welcoming for all students and employees. In cases where individuals are made to feel that this is not the case, we acknowledge that sometimes despite our best efforts, we fall short. However, we are an organization that is willing to stand up for what is right. Our goal is to foster an environment where we collectively strive for greater understanding and compassion.”
