Two kindergartners in Florida came home Thursday with swastikas drawn on their hands and arms by another student on the school bus, deputies said.
The incident prompted an investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and a public statement by Imagine Town Center Elementary School.
“Two of our younger students arrived home yesterday with swastikas, which we consider racially biased images, drawn on their hand and arm,” the statement said. “An older student allegedly drew the images on them as they rode the bus home from school.”
School administrators asked the sheriff’s office to start a criminal investigation after they learned about the incident.
Officials were reviewing video from the school bus and said they have made arrangements for “an alternate form of transportation for the student in question.”
The sheriff’s office looked into the swastika incident “to determine a motive, as well as to see if there are any more incidents that may have occurred,” it said Friday on its Facebook page.
Investigators announced Friday that after evaluating the situation, no crime occurred and that the fifth grader involved was just "goofing around," sheriff's office spokesman Cmdr. Jim Troiano said.
Imagine Town Center principal James Menard promised parents that disciplinary action will be taken once the school's internal investigation is complete.
He also decried the incident, saying that it did not reflect the character that staff tries to instill in students.
“Imagine Town Center is a learning community centered on high expectations, both academically and in the conduct and character of our students,” Menard wrote. “This incident is not consistent with our expectations of respect, tolerance and civility toward all students.
“We take this seriously.”
At the same time, Menard asked parents to use the incident as a teaching moment with their children.
“Please use this incident as a way to speak with your child about the kind of character that defines the expectations for our school and broader community,” Menard wrote. “Please also be assured that incidents of this nature will not be tolerated.”
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