A swastika was discovered in a Timberlane Middle School bathroom on Monday afternoon, prompting immediate investigation and renewed calls from Hopewell Valley Regional School District leaders for a unified response to bias and hate.
In a message to families, Timberlane Principal Chris Turnbull said the symbol had been reported Monday afternoon and referred to local police and the Superintendent’s Office. “We take the appearance of hate symbols in our building very seriously,” Turnbull wrote. “This symbol represents a history of violence and exclusion that has no place in our school community.”
Turnbull said administrators are “working vigilantly to identify those responsible.” He also outlined several steps the school is taking, including targeted lessons on bias and the impact of hate speech delivered in every homeroom, and the continuation of the school’s Holocaust education series for seventh graders. Both of those items will be happening after winter break which started for the district on Tuesday afternoon.
Superintendent Dr. Rosetta Treece said the district is “deeply saddened and disappointed” by the reappearance of a hate symbol, calling such acts “painful and troubling for our entire school community.” She emphasized that accountability will follow the investigation and stressed that combating hate “cannot rest solely on schools,” urging families to reinforce core values at home. “It will take all of us working together to send a clear and consistent message that hate has no place in our schools or in our community,” she said.
Background: A Pattern the District Has Been Working to Address
Monday’s discovery is not the first time Timberlane has confronted this issue. Earlier this year, in March, the school reported multiple swastikas found in bathrooms over a several-week period. At that time, the district referred each incident to police and increased educational programming around bias, hate symbols, and respectful community behavior.
The March incidents also prompted broader community discussion about school climate, bias prevention, restorative practices, and the supports needed for students across grade levels. In response, Timberlane expanded schoolwide lessons on hate speech, continued its partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office for bias-prevention education, and strengthened its restorative circles program, which empowers student leaders to address conflict and promote inclusivity among peers.
While the district has made these programs an ongoing part of its work, Monday’s discovery underscores the persistent challenge of combating hate symbols in schools — and the need for continued collaboration among students, staff, families, and community partners.
District Will Continue to Investigate and Provide Updates
District officials said they will continue updating families as the investigation continues and as additional educational steps are implemented. School leaders emphasized that while such incidents are distressing, they remain committed to addressing them directly and creating a learning environment where every student feels safe and supported.
