Updated June 27 to reflect this is the third time this school year that Madrona has been victimized by this type of graffiti.
For the third time during this school year, graffiti containing a racial slur and profanity were found at Madrona K-8 School in Edmonds.
Madrona Principal Lynda Fischer sent an email to families Monday night notifying them that a section of new sidewalks and rooftop skylights were tagged. A photo posted by a Madrona parent on Facebook Monday showed a skylight painted with the f-word and the n-word.
“We immediately reported this to police and a report as well as photographs were taken,” Fischer said. “As soon as we saw that the skylights were tagged and it was visible to students we moved student from the classroom until the police report was taken and skylights were cleaned.”
Anyone with information about the incident should report it to the police as part of their investigation, she said.
Edmonds police were called to Madrona in November 2016 after a racial slur and profanity were found on a wall in the school bathroom.
Here is the complete message from Principal Fischer:
Dear Madrona Families –
I want to share information with you regarding an incident that occurred over the weekend that we discovered this morning.
It is unfortunate, and I am saddened to share that a section of new sidewalk and the rooftop skylights of Unit 3 were tagged with graffiti. The graffiti included a racial slur and profanity. We immediately reported this to police and a report as well as photographs were taken.
As soon as we saw that the skylights were tagged and it was visible to students we moved student from the classroom until the police report was taken and skylights were cleaned.
As many of you know, we had tagging incidents in the interior of the school earlier this school year. We want to emphasize that we take this seriously and want to identify the individual or individuals responsible for this latest incident. Please discuss with your student as you see appropriate that anyone with information about this should report it to the police as part of their investigation.
As you know, a new principal will be taking leadership of Madrona effective July 1, and that individual and District leadership will be closely looking at the concerns being expressed by members of our community in light of this repeat incident.
Sincerely,
Lynda Fischer
Principal
Ms. Fischer seems more concerned about the spray paint itself and naughty words than the hateful intent behind them – not a word about hate or racism being unacceptable at Madrona, not a word acknowledging what kids and their families, targeted or otherwise, might be feeling. I hope she enjoys her retirement.
Be careful with language, Edmonds News & Lynda Fisher. The F-word and the N-word? Really? The word “tagging” makes it sound like some delinquent graffiti, when in fact the person wrote F-ck N—rs in red spray paint. This is the THIRD incident, outside of Swastikas painted on street signs in the neighborhood over the span of the school year. A picture of the “tagging” ought to be included in the letter. Real words spelled out. Also, why does the district need to wait 24 hours to inform the parent community? And why won’t Lynda Fisher meet with parents to discuss strategy, policy, communication? Why was the chalk art kids made with messages of love get washed away by the time the kids got to school? Hundreds of parents are feeling disappointment in this leadership. Unacceptable.
I have updated the number of incidents from two to three — my apologies for the error. And I want to acknowledge that while you chose to spell out the words used, it is against our editorial policy to use that language on our website, so those have been edited as well. I am certain that folks can fill in the hyphens.
Last night members of our community came together to write peaceful and loving messages in chalk to the students as they arrived to school. The administration of Madrona decided this was graffiti and hosed them all off before school. The chalk messages were things like “We love all of you” and “You are not alone”. They were writtenby children and parents in the Edmonds community. I was a Madrona parent for 13 years and this makes me very sad.
I don’t know if I agree with removing the children from the classroom. We can’t shield them from everything forever. They probably already know more than we think they do.
At the same time, would I really want to explain to a first grader what the “F” word really means?
I also admit I have no children!
This is a hate crime. I hope the police are all over it. And I’m appalled that the school did not think to use it as the learning opportunity it could have been — for the older children at least. And how about photographs of the loving messages before they were scrubbed away? Those could have somewhat comforted those most frightened.
Maybe the new principal will have more sensitivity?