WFAA-TV

Black parents and students in the Crowley ISD are speaking out about alleged discrimination.

CROWLEY — The Crowley Independent School District has responded to a News 8 investigation into allegations of racial discrimination.

In a news release, the district said it is "prohibited by law to address specific allegations," but "denies any assertions of inappropriate conduct."

African-American students and parents in Crowley say one problem they face is the lack of minority staff in a district that is no longer majority white.

A group of concerned parents and students filed a grievance with the school district alleging racial discrimination.

"We need to see diversity," said Joseph Williams, an adult spokesman for the group. He alleges that many black children have been mistreated and misunderstood.

Chasnique Smith, an athlete and honor roll student at North Crowley High, said she ran into trouble when her white teacher forced her to sit in a closet after she forgot a book.

"A Caucasian girl sitting behind me ... didn't have her book, either," Chasnique said.

The group wants Superintendent Greg Gibson—who is white—to consider hiring staffers who more closely coincide with student demographics.

According to a grievance filed during the 2005 school year, nearly 30 percent of the CISD student population was African-American while just two percent of the teachers were black.

The district said the grievance was incorrect, and that five percent of the teachers were African-American.

"Less than 10 percent of the staff—and probably much lsss—is minority," Williams said. "That's unacceptable."

The group said white teachers have a difficult time relating to the growing population of African-American students. "There is no way to measure that definitively, to give you a definitive answer to that," Superintendent Gibson said. He has formed a diversity council to address some of the issues raised by Williams' group.

Gibson said this school year will see a teaching staff that is more than ten percent African-American.

"We stand ready, willing and able at any time, with any parent that has a concern, to make sure we stop, we look, we listen and respond appropriately according to the Board policy and guidelines."

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