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Parents, students show support for suspended Ardrey Kell principal

Parents argue the good that David Switzer has offered to Ardrey Kell outweighs the negativity. Some worry as the leader of the school, he may become a scapegoat.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ardrey Kell High School Principal David Switzer has been suspended, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools confirmed Monday.

The suspension went into effect on Thursday, June 11, a CMS spokesperson said. Switzer will continue to be paid pending the conclusion of an internal investigation.

A CMS spokesperson declined to elaborate on the allegation that lead to the investigation and suspension. 

Switzer was seen just last week in a district video denouncing racism. In the video, Switzer can be seen standing in front of the school's spirit rock, which was repainted the same day after a mural about Black Lives Matters was defaced.

"I am sorry that incidents have happened at Ardrey Kell High School," Switzer said in part during the video. "One incident is one too many - and it pains me to my core that some within our community continue to express racist views."

In March 2019, an Ardrey Kell High School basketball player was suspended before a game after allegedly using a racial slur in a social media post.

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So far a petition in support of Principal David Switzer has gathered more than 5,000 signatures. Some students say Principal Switzer is unlike most.

“He genuinely cares about us,” says Julia Drago, a rising senior at Ardrey Kell. “How many other principals know the names of every one of their students.”

Drago also claims the school’s issues with racism are less about Principal Switzer and more about a problematic CMS Code of Conduct.

“I think that the rules should be enforced," she said. "I think we should be empowering principals with certain guidelines and rules so they can learn to take these things head-on.”

Earlier this month, a petition on change.org called for the resignation of Switzer after alleging incidents of racism at the school.

It was not immediately known what the nature of Switzer's suspension. 

RELATED: 'This hate will never win' | Someone paints over 'Black Lives Matter' message on rock outside Ardrey Kell

Parents supporting Principal Switzer argue the good that Switzer has offered to Ardrey Kell far outweighs any negativity. Some worry as the leader of the school, Switzer may become a scapegoat for all the racial incidents the school has recently seen.

“He’s always taken a lead in trying to do what’s best for the students in our community,” parent Curt Pires said. “It's heightened awareness when people are looking to blame someone for situations that have occurred.” 

Even some parents who are minorities themselves say they’ve never had an issue with Switzer when it comes to race or equality.

“There is diversity and it’s not a racist school,” said parent David Anciso. “I’ve been there for 6 years. I’m a minority, my kids are minorities. We’ve never experienced any of that.”

On Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m., some students at Ardrey Kell are planning to gather outside the school to support Switzer as a show of solidarity.

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