Pastor Nash, Student’s Family Seeks Policy And Procedure For Future Incidents

Harold Nash, Sr., Pastor of Morning Chapel Baptist Church, told KSST News Wednesday afternoon, June 10th that the desire of those who addressed the Sulphur Springs School Board Monday night is to have the board put in place a plan of action should such an instance similar to the “Ghetto Award” arise again. The Ghetto Award was the topic of discussion of speakers during the public forum portion of the meeting of the Sulphur Springs School Board Monday night.  Speakers included mother of the Middle School child who received the award, Jerrika Dabbs-Wilkins and Pastors Lavelle Hendricks and Pastor Nash, who urged the board to act on the matter.  According to Pastor Nash, the apology made by those involved in the incident has been accepted. He stated specifically that the mother of the child had reassured him Wednesday that she had accepted the apology but that she desired, as did others, that a plan be put in place by the board that would provide for the correction of such problems and proper discipline of those involved in such incidents in the future.

A Thursday June 4th afternoon meeting between several family members, two middle school classroom teachers, Middle School principal, and Superintendent Michael Lamb resulted from a complaint made to the school system regarding a “Ghetto Award” presented Wednesday in a Sulphur Springs Middle School Classroom. The Superintendent of Sulphur Springs schools said that a few steps to take resulted from the meeting and those will be presented in the executive session of the Sulphur Springs School Board Monday night. No action was taken by the school board during Monday night’s meeting. The board by law could not respond to speakers in public forum and no actions were recorded by the board following their executive session.

Questions had been raised Wednesday afternoon June 3rd and Thursday morning, June 4th regarding the “award” given to a Sulphur Springs Middle School Student. Lamb, Superintendent of Sulphur Springs Schools, said that the award was not a school sponsored award nor was the Middle School principal, Jena Williams aware that it was being given. Although the award purported to contain the principal’s signature, the signature on the award is not that of the principal. The classroom teacher presented certificates to all the members of the class pointing out specific characteristics of the child’s school year. According to Lamb, the Ghetto Award was the only one that was derogatory in nature. He said SSISD deemed the award unacceptable.

 

Author: Staff Reporter

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