Mars parent Jeff Bonifate speaks at Tuesday night's Mars School Board meeting.

ADAMS TWP — Pleas and tears were heard as dozens of residents packed the Mars Primary School cafeteria Tuesday to voice concerns over reports of hateful rhetoric and physical violence in the Mars School District in recent weeks.

The meeting was the first held after reports surfaced of “hateful rhetoric” in the district, with school administrators putting out a letter to the district community Monday. In the letter, Wesley Shipley, superintendent, said the incident was under investigation with the assistance of local law enforcement. The letter stated the district takes all such incidents seriously and punishment would be handed down appropriately.

Students reacted to the incident Monday, wearing green in support of other students who were victims of harassment and threats. They also sent a letter to school officials asking for their concerns to be heard and saying they felt unsafe due to the atmosphere within the high school.

At Monday's school board meeting, which drew more than 50 people and had two police officers on hand, several parents and students addressed the board with many pleading for a response from the district to the incident. Some shared personal experiences from their children of being the victim of racism that brought many in the crowd to tears.

Shipley said prior to the public comment portion of the meeting that the district would continue to investigate all reports of racism and other bullying and asked parents to talk to their children about reporting incidents. He added the district will be implementing a new anti-bullying program at the beginning of next school year.

Read a full version of this story in Wednesday's Butler Eagle.