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Parents demand answers after racist threats at Arbor View HS

Posted at 5:51 PM, Mar 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-21 21:52:19-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Several community groups confirm they are talking with the Clark County School District about their plans to change the culture at Arbor View High.

This comes after racist Instagram posts surfaced on Tuesday featuring posts threatening a "Columbine pt 2" at the school targeting African American students.

The parents of students pictured in that post say the school isn't communicating with them.

"Do they care? No one has reached out to our children. My son has been quiet. He is in bed almost in a depressed state. Where is the concern?," Akiko Cooks said.

Cooks 15-year-old son was pictured in the post that she discovered Tuesday morning and immediately went to the school.

While CCSD police arrested two Arbor View students and cited a third in connection with the racist Instagram account, Cooks said she has received little information from administrators.

"Why aren't we being contacted. Why is everybody speaking for us but nobody is talking to us? I have a problem with that; we have a voice," Cooks said.

The district said its Equity and Diversity Department is coordinating the response and efforts to change the culture on the campus.

The culture at the school has been the primary focus of community leaders who are working to hold CCSD accountable.

"The issues we are dealing with at Arbor View are nothing new, there have been many issues," Yvette Williams, President of the Clark County Black Caucus said.

Williams said she has spoken with Superintendent Jesus Jara and other CCSD leaders and says "they are working on a plan."

Williams was on the Arbor View campus Thursday to meet with members of the school's Black Student Union to discuss how they can lead the change in culture that could prevent the racist attacks.

"We need to have an honest conversation about racism," Williams said. "This situation could have turned out a lot worse."

Part of that conversation includes a call by Williams for more cultural competency training for CCSD employees so they can spot signs of racism on campus.

As for parents like Cooks, she says schools need to improve their communication with parents during dangerous situations like Tuesday's social media threats - a concern she plans to take directly to the school board next week.