Message from the Superintendent - January 11 Athletics Incident
Dear East Ramapo Central School District Community,
By now, many of you are aware of a disturbing incident that occurred this weekend during the boys varsity basketball game between athletes from Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls and our Spring Valley High School. During the game in Dutchess County, a spectator in the audience reportedly targeted a Spring Valley player with racially charged taunts.
Since first learning of this incident, I have been in regular communication with Wappingers Central School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Dwight Bonk, Section 1 Athletics and our Board of Education. I have been assured by Superintendent Bonk of a comprehensive, unbiased, district-led investigation to determine exactly who was responsible for the abhorrent behavior.
Let me underscore my profound distress about yesterday's incident, its impact on our athletes and its implications for a school community still healing from a similar incident during the 2023-24 academic year. As the Superintendent of Schools overseeing the well-being of our students, our academic and extracurricular programs, it is my duty to address situations that may affect the experiences of our students. As such, I plan to meet tomorrow with the Spring Valley players, team coaches and East Ramapo's Athletics Director Greg Russo to discuss their emotions and concerns about this hateful incident. Ensuring that voices are heard will only help East Ramapo move forward in the best way possible.
No matter the district, school campuses must be safe and supportive spaces in which all people are treated with respect and dignity. We will continue to work collaboratively with the Wappingers Central School District and I look forward to the results of the probe into this incident.
Mr. Anthony DiCarlo
Interim Superintendent of Schools
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