St. Louis, Missouri – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has initiated an investigation into the Hazelwood School District, holding it accountable for a violent assault on a St. Louis teenager. Bailey expressed concerns about how the district’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives may have led to safety lapses that allowed the brutal attack to occur.
Bailey emphasized the need for Hazelwood to explain the impact of their radical programs and safety shortcomings on the community. In a letter to Hazelwood School District Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart, Bailey criticized the district for prioritizing a political narrative over student safety, potentially violating Missouri law in the process.
The investigation stemmed from events in 2020 when the Hazelwood Board of Education adopted a “Statement of Solidarity,” prompting actions that segregated students based on race, influenced hiring practices, and reconsidered the district’s relationship with local law enforcement. Bailey pointed out that the district’s decision to remove uniformed police officers from schools in 2021 further compromised student safety.
As a result of the attack on the St. Louis teen, who remains in critical condition, Bailey underscored the absence of school resource officers during the incident. He argued that the district’s focus on race-based policies instead of basic safety measures put students at risk and failed to protect the victim during the assault.
Bailey demanded records from the school district related to bullying, anti-bullying efforts, violence prevention, and the decision to remove law enforcement from schools. He highlighted the district’s responsibility for the incident and urged Hazelwood to address the role of their radical programs and safety failures in the assault.
The attorney general also called for the suspect in the assault to be tried as an adult, particularly if the offense could be classified as a homicide. Despite efforts to obtain comments from Hazelwood East High School and the school district regarding the investigation, no responses have been received. The victim, identified as Kaylee, suffered severe injuries, including a fractured skull, and remains unconscious.