POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Dozens of Powhatan County residents, teachers and parents showed up to yet another packed Powhatan County School Board meeting Tuesday night, with many voicing their frustrations about the alleged ongoing racial discrimination taking place in the school district.

The public outcry comes in response to a series of recent incidents, including a racist death threat scrawled on a Powhatan High School student’s arm that went viral on social media in February.

“There is a wildfire raging in Powhatan schools and you [Powhatan School Board] are allowing it to escalate,” said a Powhatan resident at the meeting.

The NAACP also voiced concerns through spokesperson Chiara Hoyt.

“Two months after a racist death threat was made at [Powhatan County Public Schools], we have seen almost no movement forward or any tangible action steps taken to ensure that our Black and brown students are safe at school,” said Hoyt.

Hoyt also said that children who spoke out at the last board meeting in March faced a loss of learning time due to both continued harassment from peers and extensive meetings with administration. These administrators were never properly trained to check in with students regarding their racial trauma, according to Hoyt.

While there were no changes to discrimination policies on the agenda, Superintendent Beth Teigen assured the community that the board is working with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) to develop a comprehensive plan.

“No change that you want to maintain can be done quickly,” Teigen said during the meeting. “But hold us accountable, keep checking on what we’re doing. But we are going forward and doing things like we said we would do.”

Teigen emphasized that training for staff has already begun, with a focus on fostering respect and understanding. This training will continue for both students and staff throughout the fall semester.