GREENFIELD — The School Department is investigating allegations that a Federal Street School substitute teacher used a racial slur against a Black student and denied students of color permission to use the restrooms, according to Superintendent Karin Patenaude.

Human Rights Commission Chair Mpress Bennu brought the allegations forward at last week’s City Council meeting when she announced that a substitute teacher used a racial slur against her son and allowed only white students to use the restrooms. Patenaude released a statement last Friday ensuring that the incident is under investigation.

“The days of not allowing our Black and brown students to utilize the restroom but allowing white students to — those days are over. The days of Black and brown parents going unheard by the School Department, those days are over. … The days of segregation and slavery are over. How a so-called teacher disregarded that fact, but would rather humiliate our students, Black, brown and white students, by forcing her racist garbage on them,” Bennu said, addressing City Council. “I’m here to tell you, I’m going to fight to assure her days as a teacher in the state of Massachusetts will soon be over, too.”

Bennu reported the incident on Friday, April 11, and called for the teacher’s termination, a formal public apology and denouncement of prejudice from the school district, along with implementation of racial prejudice training for all district employees.

In response to Bennu’s allegation, Director of Pupil Services David Messing emailed Bennu requesting a meeting to discuss the incident. In a written statement sent to the Greenfield Recorder on Friday, Bennu recounted a meeting on Monday, April 14, attended by a number of civil rights and education leaders, including Patenaude and Federal Street School Principal Kelly Halpin. It was alleged that the same substitute teacher called another student a derogatory name.

According to Bennu, when her son asked the teacher why she used the racial slur, she allegedly responded “because I can.” When the student responded “Black and white doesn’t matter,” Bennu said the teacher allegedly responded, “Yes it does.”

According to Bennu, Patenaude stated there would be an administrative and a civil rights investigation, and that the administrative investigation would likely be completed by April 18. Bennu said Patenaude informed her that if the substitute teacher is found liable, then the Greenfield School Department would open a civil rights investigation to see if her son’s civil rights were violated.

Patenaude told the Recorder that the school district takes the allegations seriously and encourages prompt reporting of racist actions or incidents.

“Greenfield Public Schools remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring a safe, inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students. The district investigates all incidents that are reported to the district promptly and thoroughly,” Patenaude wrote in an email. “The district always encourages students and staff to report concerns immediately so that investigations can be conducted and appropriate action can be taken when necessary. Due to FERPA and Massachusetts privacy laws, the district does not provide details into specific student information or personnel information.”

Halpin echoed these remarks in an email sent to Federal Street School families on Friday, April 18, which contained links to resources to help parents discuss racism with their children, and assured family members that while the alleged incident might “shake trust and stir deep emotion,” the district wants every child to feel “protected” and “valued.”

“Every time we are informed of a concern — whether by a student, a caregiver or a staff member — we take it seriously,” Halpin wrote. “We will listen, we will take it seriously, we will investigate, we will make sure your child is supported.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.