Racial tensions are high at West Deptford High School after a pair of social media postings.
WEST DEPTFORD -- Tensions are running high at the township's high school after a pair of racial incidents on social media prompted the school's administration to address diversity and social media issues this week.
Racial tensions are high at West Deptford High School after a pair of social media postings prompted a silent protest and caused the school to address the issues. On Thursday a student, who has not been identified by the school, posted a poll on Twitter asking "What's more annoying at WDHS?" with the choices being "How cold it is" or "black hallway kids."
By the time the post was removed from the social media site it had nearly 70 votes with 74 percent of the votes for the latter answer.
In response, a group of students organized a silent protest on Twitter asking students who support minorities at the high school to wear all black to school on Friday.
There were no fights or violence at the school that day, but the school resource officer -- a West Deptford police officer who is at the high school full time -- was "very active" dealing with tensions, according to Superintendent Kevin Kitchenman.
A second social media post further escalated those tensions. Another student, who is also unidentified, altered an image of the school district's website to read "West Deptford HS home of all WHITE PEOPLE" and shared that image with friends online. It quickly made the rounds on social media and was widely shared.
District officials stated that the school website was not hacked.
The district is handling the two incidents as bias infractions and has disciplined the students as per the school's handbook, according to Kitchenman. Due to student privacy, he could not say what those punishments entailed.
Racial tensions are high at West Deptford High School after a pair of social media postings prompted a silent protest and caused the school to address the issues. Principal Brian Gismondi addressed all of the students in the school and sent messages to all of their parents condemning the posts, and the district is working with the county NAACP chapter on how to further discussions about diversity and acceptance, Kitchenman said.
West Deptford Township is 89 percent white and 6.5 percent black, according to 2010 Census figures.
The students were also given the opportunity to talk to guidance counselors about the issues and additional police presence was at the school Tuesday as a precaution.
"West Deptford school district will not tolerate any actions or words that demean or discriminate against any group," he said.
The school is also using these problems as a chance to reinforce a "pause before you post" campaign regarding social media.
"Students should be very careful about what they put in writing on social media. It will be attached to them for the rest of their life or the rest of their digital experience," Kitchenman reiterated.
Some parents, however, are still concerned that not enough is being done.
"There's a lot under the surface," said Theressa Stringfield, who has a student at West Deptford's Middle School. "They advocate that they don't take bullying at all, but they need to reassure the student body as a whole."
Rebecca Forand may be reached at rforand@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @RebeccaForand. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.