Someone must be held accountable for what happened Sept. 13 at Arlington Heights High School, North Side High School parent Claudia Palacios told the Fort Worth ISD board. 

Students must be heard and believed, Fort Worth ISD student leader Mia Morales said.

Nearly two weeks after North Side High School cheerleaders reported hearing racist epithets directed toward them by an Arlington Heights High School cheering-section during a football game, those affected demanded action be taken. The district’s investigation into what occurred that night is still underway. Some action has already been taken, board President Roxanne Martinez said during a Sept. 24 school board meeting.

“Students of Fort Worth ISD are watching, we are paying attention and we expect better,” Morales told trustees. 

Palacios is holding the board accountable for what happens next, she said. She and parents don’t only want to see potential wrongdoers disciplined, but also any adults who did not take proper action while it happened. North Side cheerleaders are still waiting for a public apology from the district. Those students deserve better and parents deserve transparency and answers, she said.

“Is Fort Worth ISD truly one?” Palacios asked, referring to departing Superintendent Angélica Ramsey’s slogan created for this school year: One Fort Worth ISD.

On Sept. 14, Martinez announced that she was aware of the concerns raised by the North Side High School community and that discrimination would not be tolerated. In a Sept. 15 Facebook post, the district said it was investigating the incident.

Trustee Camille Rodriguez was appalled by the racist behavior displayed at the Sept. 13 football game, she said in her own Sept. 15 Facebook post. 

“There is no place in 2024 for racial epithets to be hurled at our students and their families,” she said. “We must lead by example.”

The investigation is being conducted by district staff trained in matters related to allegations of discrimination. 

Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and potential outcomes that may follow under the current code of conduct, as well as actions already applied, the district is unable to provide any more detailed information, Martinez said.

“We want to reassure our community that Fort Worth ISD remains committed to promoting equity and inclusion throughout our district,” she said during the board’s Sept. 24 meeting, minutes after the board voted to accept Ramsey’s resignation.

Regardless, Palacios and parents are still looking for consequences to be levied.

“The community deserves meaningful change to prevent this from happening again,” Palacios said. 

To make the changes Palacios hopes for — and to address systemic issues and foster an inclusive environment — the district’s Racial Equity Committee will continue to play an integral role, Martinez said.

The Racial Equity Committee, chaired by trustee Quinton Phillips, last met on June 6, 2024, at the district’s Teaching and Learning Center. Martinez and trustee Wallace Bridges also serve on the committee, which is composed of district administrators and a few community members. 

Before concluding that meeting, Phillips told members that the committee would next meet Oct. 3, 2024. Committee meetings are closed to the public.

“We will continue to work with our students, staff and community to ensure that all voices are heard and that we uphold our district’s values of equity and respect,” Martinez said.

The voices of the students who experienced that Sept. 13 night should be elevated, Morales said. When the North Side cheer team spoke out about what they reportedly endured, they were not only met with hostility, she said, but were accused of being liars. Those community members perpetuated the racism the district should be fighting, Morales said. 

Martinez applauded those students.

“We appreciate the bravery of the North Side High School cheerleaders in bringing this issue forward, as well as the leadership shown by students at Arlington Heights High School,” Martinez said, referring to students who apologized for the actions displayed during the game. 

While the action made by the district is not yet public, Martinez vouched to post an update as soon as she could. She is expecting a legal briefing on the matter soon, she said.

“Fort Worth ISD remains committed to transparency and accountability and will provide further updates as soon as we are able,” Martinez said.

Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @MatthewSgroi1.

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