“He was talking to some students and said some things that were racially insensitive,” said Board President Dan Murray. “We take diversity in our school district very seriously with tolerance of people who are different. We just felt this teacher had crossed the line,” Murray said.
Actions like these are nothing more than a habit for Mr. Voigt. He has been reprimanded for racially-charged remarks several times. Journal-News reports he was given “a verbal warning in April 2008 for an ‘inappropriate racial comment,’ another in November 2008 for ‘improper use of school technology’ and a third in December 2013 for ‘inappropriate comments to students.’ He also received a written warning last month for ‘failure to use adopted curriculum.’”
Superintendent Paul Otten said it is “very disheartened to have this situation with any of our staff members.”
“It’s not something we’re proud of, and it’s something we must not tolerate,” he says.