Rochester school Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small says several staff members at School 17 have been placed on leave for exchanging text messages with racist and demeaning comments about students.
Myers-Small says she's horrified by the language, and she says the district will use all forms of available discipline, including possible firing.
She's telling staff that words matter and mindsets that humiliate and devalue students and their families will not be tolerated.
A student apparently discovered the text exchange while borrowing a phone from a teacher.
It's the second alleged racist incident at an RCSD school this month: School of the Arts teacher Patrick Rausch is on leave after allegedly forcing Black children to pick cotton in his class.