St. Louis, Missouri – After a violent altercation left a 16-year-old student at Hazelwood East High School severely injured, Missouri’s Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, initiated an investigation into the Hazelwood School District. The incident, which garnered national attention, raised questions about the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the school district.
Claims suggesting a racial undertone to the attack surfaced following the release of a viral video showing the injuries sustained by the student, Kaylee Gain. However, police investigations did not find any evidence linking the incident to DEI programs.
Bailey’s probe into the school district focused on how its DEI initiatives may have contributed to the violent attack. However, the involvement of law enforcement officers in the school system, particularly regarding the presence of school resource officers, became a point of contention in the investigation.
The relationship between the school district and police departments, responsible for providing school resource officers, came under scrutiny. Discrepancies emerged regarding the decision-making process that led to the absence of uniformed officers in the schools.
Despite Bailey’s assertions of safety failures attributed to the school district’s DEI programs, officials within the district maintained their commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential components of a safe and inclusive school environment.
Critics, including St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell and Congresswoman Cori Bush, denounced Bailey’s investigation as politically motivated and potentially harmful to the community. Concerns were raised about the impact of the probe on the ongoing criminal case and the safety of students within the district.
As the investigation continues, the debate over the role of DEI programs in school safety remains a divisive issue, with implications for policy, law enforcement, and community relations within the Hazelwood School District.