ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Following racist text messages shared across the country in recent days, Rochester Public Schools sent an email to students, families and staff Monday to remind them to ‘express.

The district’s email reminded recipients of the reporting tool called “SpeakUp.”

People can use it to report incidents of discrimination, harassment or hatred.

The note comes from Racist text messages mentioning the slavery that recently spread across the country, targeting black individuals.

You can read Superintendent Kent Pekel’s memo below, which includes ways to use the SpeakUp tool:

Dear RPS students, families and staff,

In recent days, several racist and hateful messages have been sent and shared within our community and across the country. At Rochester Public Schools, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our RPS family. We are committed to treating each other with kindness, respect and dignity.

As part of our ongoing commitment to making RPS a place where every person is treated with respect, I want to remind everyone of the SpeakUp tool, a reporting mechanism and important resource that empowers students, staff and families to report any incident of discrimination. harassment or hatred. SpeakUp allows us to resolve issues quickly and efficiently, ensuring that no one is forced to put up with hurtful behavior in silence. To report, send an email to [email protected] or call or text 651-381-6083.

We are proud of the diversity that defines RPS, and we will continue to value, celebrate and learn from it. Let’s be clear: our neighborhood is stronger because of our differences. These differences make us who we are and allow us to grow, both as individuals and as a community.

Thank you for being part of this important work. Together, we will build a better, more inclusive future for all students.

Sincerely, Kent Pekel, Ed.D. Director

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