Rockdale County Schools Respond After ‘Whites Only’ and ‘Coloreds Only’ Signs Found at Elementary School

The Rockdale County Board of Education is publicly addressing the backlash after segregation-era signs labeled “Whites Only” and “Coloreds Only” were discovered above water fountains at Honey Creek Elementary School. The signs, posted as part of an unapproved lesson plan, were found by students in first and fifth grade more than a week ago.

Superintendent Shirley Chesser confirmed at Thursday night’s board meeting that the signs were not a prank, but part of a first-grade social studies activity that had not been reviewed or approved by administrators.

“This activity did not align with district expectations, and we recognize that this may have been hurtful,” Chesser said.

The unauthorized lesson was tied to a unit on civil rights icon Ruby Bridges, a standard topic in the first-grade curriculum. However, Chesser emphasized that the signs and how they were used were not part of any approved teaching materials or lesson plans.

Kingston, a fifth grader at the school, was one of the students who found the signs and reported them to his mother, Nikisha, who later spoke at a board meeting. Kingston told 11Alive, “I thought it was racist. I don’t think anyone should feel like they shouldn’t belong in certain areas because of their skin color.”

The signs were displayed in the school cafeteria and were taken down shortly after being reported. The district’s human resources department is conducting an investigation into the incident.

In response to the controversy, a letter was sent to Honey Creek parents—over a week after the incident and just one day after 11Alive aired a story featuring Kingston and his family.

Kiiva Copeland, president of the Rockdale County NAACP, called the district’s delay in addressing the situation disappointing. “It kind of left your jaw on the floor,” she said. “There are so many other ways to teach this lesson.”

Both the Georgia NAACP and the Rockdale County NAACP are requesting to review the results of the investigation once it’s complete. The district has not yet announced whether disciplinary actions will be taken, but says it’s committed to reviewing current policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.