Report: Kellam student received racist harassment from other students

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Kellam High School student received racist harassment from a group of six other students at the school, according to officials with Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

A letter sent to the school community Thursday did not indicate when the racist harassment took place — a School Board member indicated on social media that it took place earlier that day — but it said the matter is being investigated, with the students involved to be disciplined “to the fullest extent possible based upon the school division’s code of student conduct.”

The Virginia Beach NAACP stated they were “deeply disturbed” by the news.

And while the letter sent to parents didn’t detail the harassment, 10 On Your Side has learned School Board members were given more details.

According to an email from Chief of Staff Cheryl Woodhouse, the incident involved six white students and one Black student.

Thursday, according to the email sent to board members, the White students approached the Black student in the hallway with a bag filled with “perceived stereotypical Black items” and a card filled with racial slurs.

They allegedly presented the items in the hallway and laughed while encouraging the student to read the card aloud. According to the school division, a staff member who witnessed this incident immediately intervened.

However, District 5 School Board member Melinda Rogers said more needs to be done.

“I feel that we have to do better,” Rogers said.

Especially since, she said, this isn’t just a Kellam problem.

“What I am hoping … with the student body at Kellam [is] that they do have more ongoing education about bullying, harassment, racism and that all of that is continuing conversation,” Rogers said, “that we aren’t just being reactive, but that we’re being proactive in our responses, that we are continuing to educate, continuing to tell our students these are the things that we need to be careful of.”

Rogers said in a social media post Thursday that she is “sickened, disgusted and heartbroken at the actions that occurred at Kellam High School today.”

“As a parent, I want my children attending a SAFE school, where they know their peers will at the very least, allow them to exist in the same space peacefully,” Rogers wrote on her School Board Facebook page Thursday. “The actions of the students at Kellam made my child’s school and my community a place that is not safe for some. This is wholly unacceptable. There is no room for racism in our community—not now, not ever. While the perpetrators were children, they must be taught that these egregious acts will not be tolerated in Virginia Beach or at Kellam High School.”

Virginia representatives are also weighing in on the incident.

“This kind of racist behavior is absolutely unacceptable and has no place in our public schools or anywhere in the Commonwealth,” said Delegate Michael Feggans. “The fear-inducing actions taken by the group of students against a vulnerable fellow classmate on school grounds were disgusting and reprehensible. I commend the Kellam High School teacher who intervened immediately to protect the student from further harm and appreciate the school administration’s quick response to this incident. I have full confidence in Kellam High School Principal Dr. Ryan Schubart and Virginia Beach Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Robertson to ensure this situation is addressed properly and that our schools remain welcoming to all.”

The following went out to the Kellam High School community at 5 p.m. Thursday:

Kellam High School community,

Ensuring a safe and welcoming learning environment for our students and staff is always our top priority. Unfortunately, we regret to inform you about a deeply concerning situation where one of our students was subject to racist harassment from a group of other students. This matter is being fully investigated, and the students involved will be disciplined to the fullest extent possible based upon the school division’s code of student conduct.

Please know it is “the policy of the School Board to prohibit any and all discrimination, harassment and bullying based on an individual’s race, color, religion …” This behavior is not representative of the Kellam High School community, and we are taking the matter very seriously. We continue to counsel and educate our students about creating a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students and staff.

VBCPS has long-standing policies emphasizing zero tolerance for acts of this kind. As such, our staff regularly receives training on the importance of belonging and well-being. I fully trust our team in this regard, and together we will continue this critical work. I commend the staff member who witnessed this incident and immediately intervened, exemplifying the high standards we expect in recognizing and addressing concerning situations.

As always, we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all. I encourage you to discuss with your children the harmful impact this behavior has on our school community. Together, we can foster a supportive space where we value differences and uphold Kellam’s core values of leadership, integrity, and unity.

The city’s Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed a police investigation into the incident and said in a statement the behavior “doesn’t rise to the level of a crime under Virginia statutes.”

The situation that occurred at Kellam High School is reprehensible. We understand that people believe the actions of these students should be punished criminally. A thorough investigation was conducted by the Virginia Beach Police Department and reviewed by the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. The Office has determined that this behavior doesn’t rise to the level of a crime under Virginia statutes. It’s important to note that Virginia’s hate crime statute is not a punitive statute but rather provides the definition of hate crime that can then be used to escalate punishment under other criminal statutes.