Administrators, law enforcement officials, and community members are working to address recent incidents involving hate symbols discovered at Timberlane Middle School, emphasizing education and restorative practices to combat bias and promote inclusivity.
“It is with regret that I need to share with you a series of recent occurrences,” Principal Chris Turnbull wrote in an email to parents on Friday, March 14. “Over the past two weeks, we have found a swastika on a bathroom stall in two different bathrooms, and this afternoon, we found one in a seventh-grade area. This marks the fourth time that a swastika was found at TMS this year.”
Turnbull assured parents that administrators reported each incident to the police and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, following district procedures. Investigations were conducted, and administrators have been working closely with law enforcement.
Turnbull acknowledged the distress caused by the symbols and urged the school community to take an active role in fostering a culture of respect and empathy.
Starting next week, school administrators will facilitate discussions with every homeroom on hate speech, bias, and symbols related to race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality, including the specific incidents at Timberlane. The school will use students’ open work period and spend several weeks visiting with students, ensuring that they receive this information in an intimate setting. Additionally, a parent event is scheduled for April 23 at 6 p.m. in the Timberlane Cafeteria to further discuss these issues, share school efforts, and invite community feedback.
Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece noted that incidents involving hate symbols, disparaging language, or harassment have happened before, including a 2019 case where authorities charged a high school student with cyberbullying for sending racist videos on social media.
“We can go years without this being an issue,” Treece said. “But then something brings this out whether it is in a video game, something they see on TikTok or the news. This creates an opportunity for teaching, but we can’t do it alone.”
The district has been working closely with law enforcement, including Detective Marlon Webb of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, and his K-9 partner Sunny, to address incidents of bias. While consequences are in place for violations of the school code of conduct, the district also prioritizes restorative practices.
A key initiative in addressing bias incidents at Timberlane is the student-led restorative circle program. This program, launched as part of a pilot project in collaboration with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Youth Inclusion Program, is in its second year and provides a space for students to engage in dialogue, resolve conflicts, and learn from each other. Eighth-grade student leaders facilitate the discussions, helping peers reflect on their actions and understand their impact on the school community.
“Students listen to other students more than they listen to us. And they listen to Sunny,” Webb said. “We want to teach them what we can at the school level, rather than see them in our (the prosecutor’s) office later.”
The restorative circles at Timberlane address a wide range of issues including name-calling, racial conflicts, and general disputes among students. The program creates a structured environment where students can openly discuss their experiences, express their emotions, and work toward resolution with their peers. By fostering honest conversations and mutual understanding, the circles help prevent conflicts from escalating while reinforcing the values of respect and accountability. Students lead the process, with faculty support, ensuring that their voices are heard and that they contribute to shaping a more inclusive school culture.
This approach aims to empower students as upstanders rather than bystanders. Turnbull noted that student leaders take ownership of the school culture, advocating for inclusivity and addressing incidents as quickly as they can. “I wish we didn’t need this,” he said. “But we need an on-ramp through education—we know students make mistakes, and this gives them a chance to learn and do better.”
At the February Board of Education meeting, Hopewell Township resident and district parent Lauren Cavanaugh addressed the appearance of hate symbols at the middle school.
“My son walked into the bathroom at Timberlane only to find a vulgar, offensive, symbol of hate scrawled on the stall door,” Cavanaugh said. “Displaying this symbol is not only offensive but also considered a hate crime in the eyes of the law—and for good reason.”
Cavanaugh expressed frustration that some administrators were not aware of the proper protocol for handling hate speech incidents and delayed their response. Beyond this incident, she highlighted a broader pattern of bias-related issues within the district and called for increased training and education for both staff and students.
“I ask that all vice principals and other administrators receive updated and expanded training so that they are prepared to handle these incidents in the future,” Cavanaugh said. “I ask that the board consider what additional education can be provided to students to help them better understand the impact that hate speech and symbols have on their school community and learn to be both more open to people that aren’t like them and mindful of the big impact that small acts of kindness and courage can make. And I ask the community to explore ways to increase public awareness and compassion, not just in our schools, but in our places of worship, parks, and beyond.”
Dr. Treece underscored that these incidents will not be tolerated and that any issues on protocol were being handled through improved training.
In an interview this week, Treece emphasized the importance of proactive education. “If we don’t teach real history and the significance of these symbols, we risk repeating it,” she said. “This history is not that old, and genocide is still happening in parts of the world today. We must ensure students understand the gravity of these issues.”
The district is looking to expand its restorative justice program to the high school level next fall, with plans to train student leaders at the end of the school year. “Ideally, we work ourselves out of business,” Webb said. “The more students take ownership of their school community, the less we’ll see incidents like this.”
While the discovery of hate symbols has raised concerns, district leaders say they are encouraged by the willingness of students and families to engage in conversations and solutions. “It’s gut-wrenching to have these conversations with parents,” Turnbull said. “But one time is too much. We have to work together—students, staff, families, and the entire community—to ensure our schools remain safe and inclusive for all.”
The Board of Education’s next meeting is Monday, March 17. The meeting is at Stony Brook Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. There is a tour of Stony Brook at 5:30 p.m. for anyone interested to see the building and what needs to be fixed as the district explores a referendum in November to fix critical infrastructure issues across the district.
