• Bridgeport Public Schools

    March 10, 2022

    Dear Bridgeport Public School Community:

    The purpose of this letter is to inform you about an incident that occurred today involving racist behavior at the Fairchild Wheeler Campus. A racially hateful photograph/message was sent to students at the FWC shortly before lunch. This manually altered photograph/message immediately caused students to feel angry and hurt. The Bridgeport Public Schools takes pride in being a diverse and multicultural community. A place where ALL students, regardless of race, religion, gender, immigration status, language, sexual orientation, political view, or social economic standing have a right to access a free and public education that develops his/her fullest potential. Our commitment has been and will continue to be to maintain a safe, respectful and rigorous learning environment for every kid, every day.

    We are fully committed to your child’s physical and emotional wellbeing. It is our priority to ensure that every student and family feels safe and welcomed in our schools.  There is absolutely no place in our schools for bullying, harassment, racism or bigotry in any form, toward any student. As a school district we will not tolerate acts of racism and hate and will discipline those who seek to intimidate, harass or create a school environment that causes any student or group to feel mistreated.

    We work every day to educate our children to accept, understand, and develop a cultural appreciation for all people. I encourage you to talk to your child about respecting others and also reminding them that he/she has the right to be safe, respected, and protected in our schools.

    If your child feels overwhelmed, angry or afraid by the recent events, please encourage them to talk with a trusted adult at school or at home. In the event that you or your child were to witness or be the target of harassment, intimidation, violence, and/or discrimination, we ask that you call the school immediately.

    Sincerely,

    Michael J. Testani
    Superintendent of Schools