Olathe South High School principal resigns following student protests over racism

Olathe South High School Principal Dale Longenecker has resigned, seemingly answering students’ calls to step down because of how the school has handled racist incidents.

Superintendent Brent Yeager said in an email to families that Longenecker will not be returning to Olathe South. Students protested outside of district headquarters last week and walked out of class, calling on the principal to be fired and for school officials to issue stronger discipline for racism and hate speech.

Sophomore Kirubel Solomon said three white students had been targeting and harassing him with racial slurs since the start of the semester because he is Black. But this month, he said, he was in his metal and jewelry making class when they handed him a flat piece of copper with the N-word and a heart stamped into it.

After that, Solomon said he reported the incident and the previous months of harassment and racism to Longenecker. He said he was unimpressed with Longenecker’s reaction, saying that the principal apologized and said that the behavior had no place in Olathe. Solomon claimed that two of the white students received 10 days of out-of-school suspension, while the third received a few days and already returned to class.

Yeager’s email did not provide a reason for Longenecker’s resignation.

But Solomon called it a “major victory.”

He told The Star in a text message Monday evening that there are “a lot more steps to go” and that it “doesn’t matter who’s at the position if there isn’t any more moves for change after.”

Students say racism is rampant in their school and appropriate action is rarely taken. In another viral incident less than two years ago, a photo circulated of a white Olathe South student asking a St. James Academy student to homecoming using a sign that read: “If I was Black I would be picking cotton but I’m white so I’m picking you for HOCO.” Many parents and students questioned the school’s handling of the incident.

Student protesters pushed for the firing of Longenecker for a “failure” to properly address racism. They also have called on the district to initiate an investigation into its own practices to ensure racism is better addressed, and they asked for new disciplinary measures against discrimination and hate speech, with clear consequences and a process for educating violators on the impact of racism.

They also are pushing for stronger diversity programs and training, a system for students to more easily and confidentially report harassment and discrimination, the hiring of a more diverse workforce, as well as stronger collaboration with students and the community on tackling racial inequities.

During last week’s protest, school board member and Democratic Kansas state Rep. Brad Boyd said racist incidents, such as students being called slurs, are “being excused away.”

In his email, Yeager told families, “We recognize that this has been an especially challenging end of the school year for Olathe South and want to assure you that your administrative team and district leadership are committed to moving forward in the most productive way possible.”

He said the district is “working hard to ensure a smooth transition in leadership moving forward. We are committed to providing stability for the OS staff, students and community as we close out the school year and head into the summer.”

He said the district will eventually announce a new head principal for next school year.