Dear Needham Public Schools Families and Staff: It came to my attention this morning that a recent exchange on Facebook from the "Needham Parents" group shared disparaging comments about the staff at one of our schools, the Sunita Williams Elementary School. Additionally, and even more distressing, one comment was racist and targeted at the school's principal. I have shared before with the community in an open blog post <https://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/2023/12/facebook-is-awful.html> why I believe Facebook, which allows anonymous and cowardly individuals to come forward to make inaccurate, inappropriate, and ugly comments, can be a marketplace and cesspool of disinformation and claptrap. If you have not read my post, I encourage you to read it now. I am immensely disheartened that any individual, including one of our principals, would be the subject of a racist remark. Our district has a clear statement and protocol that deals with how we will respond to bias <https://docs.google.com/document/d/14s82oeNmVwhAuf7DUUOIrRsQkDLolT12Pphvs_Uuc1E/edit?tab=t.0> at school. While the focus of this protocol is to protect students, it is not exclusively so. Part of the response is to call out harmful acts and let the broader community know we do not condone language that demeans another or is racist in nature. Let me be clear: I stand in support and solidarity with the wonderful staff of the Sunita Williams Elementary School and the school's principal, Ms. Kiana Brunson. Our entire community is stronger because of the work that the Sunita Williams staff and their principal do each day to support the amazing young people who are learning and growing there. On the eve of a festive holiday week when we will spend time with family and friends, it is my hope that we can use this unfortunate opportunity to remember that our community - and our schools - are stronger when we act with curiosity, model civil and empathetic language, and ultimately support one another - and not tear others down. Respectfully, and on behalf of the principals of the Needham Public Schools, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 *He/His/Him* 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance. Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子 的学校联系。 Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia. Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.