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TagsBY ALICIA CRUZ
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
An inappropriate email with racial implications sent by Cherry Hill Public School District Facilities Manager, Kevin Larsen, has forced school officials to launch an investigation.
The January 28 email Larsen sent was intended for Beth Ann Kob, the principal at Woodcrest Elementary School, in response to her request for snow removal assistance, according to the Associated Press.
Larson turned down her request, saying, quote, "polar bears, trained seals and the two silver back mountain gorillas on loan from the township" were assigned elsewhere. The note further says, "You should see them with a snow blower that has a banana tied to the front of it."
Cherry Hill Mayor Bernie Platt and others took offense to the email, published by the Courier Post, saying the notes despicable racial undertones were a reference to African American employees.
Dan Keashen, spokesman for the Mayor's office told NewJerseyNewsroom.com that the mayor's office is an inclusive and diverse workplace and those types of comments are completely unacceptable.
"The Mayor, in fact, has said on numerous occasions that the comments are reprehensible," said Keashen. "Honestly, it's disturbing and offensive to the entire community."
Keashen said he and Township Council President David Fleisher reached out to all Department of Public Works employees Monday thanking them for their hard work and letting them know they are appreciated.
He added that the day before Larsen's email was made public, all Township supervisors attended a Federal seminar on equal opportunity and civil rights in the workplace.
"Right now, we're waiting to see how the school...how the Superintendent [Dr. David C. Campbell] handles this incident," said Keashen. "Our hope is that he is taking this very seriously."
When asked how the Mayor's office would have handled such behavior from a Township employee, Keashen stated it almost certainly would end in "extreme discipline, if not termination."
"This isn't something we tolerate or encourage."
According to Philly.com, Cherry Hill Public School officials say they are investigating the incident, and that Larsen is out of the office on medical leave. A phone call to Larsen’s office was not answered.
