Before kickoff tonight, Superintendent Rick Doll gave the following speech. (This text comes from an early release version of the speech.)

Good evening and welcome to tonight’s intercity football game. I am pleased to be joined on the field by Free State Principal Ed West, student body president Megan McReynolds and team captains Jacob Holliday, Dalton Gabb and Shane Hofer, and by Lawrence High Principal Matt Brungardt, student body president Sadie Keller and team captions Cy Burghart, Steven Hays and Joshua Thomas. We are here in unity, not one high school vs. the other.

Earlier this week this football field was vandalized. Though student pranks have been a part of the high school culture for many years, this was not a prank. This was more than good natured ribbing between high schools. This was serious because a racial slur, the N-word, was used. I am deeply troubled and shaken by this. It rocked me to my core. I have struggled with how to respond. Race is a sensitive topic. Talking about it is difficult. I fully understand that there may be some in this crowd who think that this was no big deal, while others may see it as yet another example of how racism continues to permeate society.

I see this as an opportunity to continue to educate our students and our school community and to take deliberate actions to ensure it doesn’t happen again. For the past five years, Lawrence Public Schools have been talking about race, because race impacts our lives and student achievement. We have been having courageous conversations about race among the school board, at the district level through our leadership team and at each of our schools led by equity teams. Some might argue that we are in a post-racial society, but evidence continues to indicate we are not.

So, what do we do about it and how can you help? Our school district intends to continue its equity work. Some teachers are already leading these discussions in classrooms and others are asking for assistance in how to lead these discussions. We will use an established protocol to help: stay engaged, experience discomfort, speak your truth and expect and accept non-closure.

Working toward our excellence and equity goals to raise the achievement of all students and close achievement gaps, we will continue to develop equity leaders in our schools through Beyond Diversity Workshops, professional development and continued support. In many ways, I believe our students will lead us.

So I challenge you to help us by not sweeping this under the rug. Let’s use it as an opportunity to learn, grow, speak up and to act. Let’s use it as an opportunity for continued dialogue about race and racism. Let’s use it as an opportunity to become a better school community.

Thank you.