Wauwatosa West H.S. principal, district superintendent apologize for racial comment

WAUWATOSA – The principal of Wauwatosa West High School has apologized for making a racial comment to a class of students. The incident happened last week -- and has some calling for the principal's resignation.

The comment made by the principal, Frank Calarco, was directed at high school senior Thomas Leonard on Friday morning, April 22nd in a science class.

FOX6's Ben Handelman spoke with Leonard about the incident.

"He says, 'Hey, can someone tell this kid it's not the 1960s.  Black people don't have to sit in the back of the classroom,'" Leonard said. "At first I was like, I don't even care; he said what he said. But then around 6:00 Friday night, I said, 'this is bigger than me. This is about Tosa West and the community.'"

Calarco apologized over the loudspeaker Monday, as Dr. Phil Ertl, superintendent of the Wauwatosa School District, released the following statement on the matter:

Not everyone has accepted the apologies.

"I'm shocked. I'm appalled," Sam Coleman said.

Coleman is Leonard's uncle and legal guardian. A school administrator himself, when he heard what happened, he immediately demanded a meeting with the principal.

"I'd like the leader to be held accountable. I'd like to see his resignation," Coleman said.

Video from the student newspaper shows that more than 100 gathered Monday in between classes to hear Leonard denounce the comments.

"He didn't just disrespect me.  He disrespected the 900-something students and our families and the community by saying this," Leonard said.

Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee), who is a family friend of Leonard, attended a forum on Monday afternoon hosted by the Wauwatosa West Black Student Union amid this controversy. He issued this statement:

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.