IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT concerning video incident

julianne.foster

Two Carrollton High School students who were featured in a racially offensive TikTok video that spread across social media platforms last night are no longer students in the Carrollton City School District, said Dr. Mark Albertus, superintendent.



Albertus said the students’ behavior was unacceptable and is not representative of the district’s respect for all people.



“The racist behavior observed in the video easily violates this standard,” he said. “They are no longer students at Carrollton High School.”



TikTok is a social media outlet that has been available via smart phone apps for less than two years. It has become the platform of choice for teen-agers.



Albertus said he was deeply disturbed by the overt racist tone of the TikTok video and concurred with parents and other community members who were outraged by the production, posted Thursday night on TikTok and quickly shared across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and other social media platforms.



CHS Principal David Brooks, who began investigating the incident Thursday night after the release of the video, said even if the offending incident was recorded after-school hours, it doesn’t alleviate the students’ responsibility to uphold a high standard of behavior.



“It is our priority to keep our schools safe, and there is no doubt this incident has caused significant tension at Carrollton High School, across the district, state and nation – even the world,” he said.



Albertus said the school district takes great pride in its diverse student population and considers it a strength.



“This incident does not reflect the culture of Carrollton City Schools,” said Albertus. “We are very proud of our diversity and so is our entire community. We don’t need to lose sight of this important attribute because of the actions of a few.”