The Carroll ISD school board announced Monday they are taking actions to address a controversial video posted recently on social media in which CISD students can be seen and heard using a racial slur.

The video was posted Oct. 26, board Vice President Michelle Moore said. The school district held a special meeting Friday during which community members shared their experiences and thoughts regarding the issue with a packed boardroom.

CISD leaders have developed a cultural competence action plan to provide education and promote tolerance. Initiatives include:

• Holding students accountable for the racial slur video through consequences;
• Strengthening expectations of students and discipline policies regarding hateful and discriminatory speech in the student code of conduct;
• Emphasizing cultural awareness as part of The Resiliency Project;
• Forming a diversity council to support and nurture CISD’s increasingly diverse population;
• Emphasizing cultural competence in the K-12 curriculum as an important skill for students to learn;
• Conducting face-to-face meetings to discuss cultural awareness and kindness with student leaders;
• Bringing in student assembly speakers to address topics, such as cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness;
• Providing diversity training for all staff; and
• Expanding programming and resources for parents, staff and students.

CISD staff has already taken steps to implement some of these initiatives, including consulting with the school district’s attorney to revise the student code of conduct, looking for student assembly speakers and planning a day to provide diversity training for staff, Moore said.

“I think we have a great opportunity while the spotlight is there to really affect some change within our community,” board trustee Danny Gilpin said.

These efforts are ongoing, and more initiatives may be added in the future, Moore said. The board has received feedback from many people in the community.

“If I could take anything positive from all of this is how many people want to engage with us and want to be part of the solution,” she said.