School reduces racial tensions

Students go to mediation session

HILLSBOROUGH -- A mediation session between Hispanic students and the white students who were bullying them at Cedar Ridge High School has helped ease tension between the groups, the mother of one of the bullied children says.

"I think this worked," said Suyapa Santos.

Earlier this month, some white students threatened some Hispanic students in the cafeteria, in the hallway, on the bus and at one student's house, Santos told The News & Observer for an earlier article.

The threats started with the white students telling the Hispanic students that they would force them out of the school, Santos said.

The white students later threatened to hit one student and kill another, she said.

Principal Gary Thornburg has referred questions to district spokeswoman Anne D'Annunzio.

Both she and a representative of the Dispute Settlement Center in Carrboro said the mid-March mediation session went well.

The school followed up by organizing a meeting with Hispanic parents to hear their concerns.

School officials will hold a breakfast meeting next week to continue building a relationship, Santos said.

D'Annunzio said that the school is considering creating a student human relations committee next school year but that Thornburg had that idea before the incidents occurred.

A rally that Hispanic students had scheduled for Tuesday was called off after school officials reached out to Hispanic parents and students.