MEMBERS OF the Native American Club at Montezuma-Cortez High School pose in the MCHS courtyard Tuesday. The club has been revivied recently because of concerns about possible racial tensions at the high school.

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Looking for a lesson to be learned in the wake of controversy over an allegedly racist comment made by Montezuma-Cortez High School Principal Mark Rappe, some students, teachers, administrators and school-board members are seeking ways to bring about positive change in the district.

Re-1 Superintendent Bill Thompson told the Journal Tuesday that a diversity task force has been formed to address student concerns.

"There’s going to be some information presented to the board at the next meeting about things that have begun at the high school," Thompson said. "There have some new things started. I don’t have the details on it yet and probably won’t for the next few weeks, but I know Mr. Rappe has been intimately involved in getting that started."

Rappe admitted last month that he had used the term "Navajo gypsies" while discussing mobility issues and CSAP scores at a faculty meeting. A week later he made a school-wide apology.

However, a student-organized group charged that the school district had ignored the issue and failed to take satisfactory action. The student group, now recognized by MCHS as the Native American Club, addressed the school board at its past two meetings.

The outcome suggests there will be more emphasis on tolerance and diversity programs as well as a heightened awareness of cultural pride and sensitivity.

Thompson and administrator Dave Crews are expected to further their investigation into the racist allegations against Rappe and report to the school board at the Dec. 18 meeting.

"Mr. Crews and I are expected to bring something to the next meeting and let the board know what’s going on," Thompson said. "I will be making my recommendations to the board ahead of time in writing, and the board will receive it in their packet."

Thompson said the recommendations will be made available to the public at that time.

MCHS counselor Lou Ann Burkett said she is not in a position to pass judgment on "the appropriateness of the term or to add to the controversy that it has generated." However, she said, it is appropriate for her as a faculty member to "look for the positive things that can come from this unfortunate incident."

In a letter intended for school-board President Steve Hinton but never sent, Burkett and other colleagues expressed a need to take advantage of a bad situation and use it as a learning tool.

"Rather than dwell on the divisiveness and emotionalism that this can create, we can move forward from it to create something positive and good for our high school and our community," Burkett wrote. "This time would also be an ideal one to create an atmosphere of culture awareness and respect that we have not experienced in full in our school."

One group that seems to have found strength from the incident is the Native American Club. Once a dissolved club at the high school, the program has found new sponsorship in a school-board member, Renee Reed, in light of the recent controversy.

"Several of our Native American kids are in the library, doing research and reading books they haven’t read before," Burkett said. "They’re looking towards improving their education so they can fight this kind of thing."

Regardless of what happens to Rappe, the students and school have benefited from the experience, Burkett said.

"Any time you see kids going for a cause — right or wrong — it must really mean something to them. I’m real proud of them because I know it’s been an emotional risk."

Burkett added that she has seen a growing cultural pride in the past month. Thursday the Native American Club showed the members’ uniqueness by wearing their stately and traditional dress.

"We live in a wonderfully diverse community with people coming from many backgrounds and cultures," Burkett wrote in the letter, dated Oct. 15.

"This diversity gives us a strength we can draw from. We need to host cultural events that allow opportunities for our students to learn the richness and uniqueness our home has to offer. Each of our students and parents need to be invited to help provide a showcase of their history, heritage and beliefs.

"MCHS would be an exceptional venue to host those programs. What could be an unfortunate and divisive issue could become one of exceptional opportunity for dialogue and learning."