Portland Catholic school called police on Black parents who questioned handling of racial slur. Then expelled their child

In late March, a distressing incident unfolded at The Madeleine School, a private Catholic institution in Northeast Portland. The principal, Tresa Rast, called the Portland police when the parents of a Black fourth-grade student sought answers after their son reported being called a racist slur on the playground. Within 72 hours, the school expelled the boy, citing that his parents, Karis Stoudamire-Phillips, a Moda Health executive, and Mike Phillips, a renowned jazz musician, violated the school’s code of conduct for parents. This swift action, coupled with what the family perceived as a lack of empathy from school leaders, led them to hire a lawyer and share their story publicly.

“You’re calling the cops on me and kicking out my son because of what he heard?” Mike Phillips asked. “My family is the victim in this. There is no cross you can hide behind.”

The incident has caused significant upheaval at the PK-8 school, which educates about 250 children. Several families have decided not to re-enroll or have already withdrawn their children, including the family of another child who also reported hearing the slur. According to that child’s father, Principal Rast suggested that their son had fabricated the incident and recommended therapy to “deprogram” him from anti-racist training received in public school.

Approximately 50 parents signed a letter to the parish priest overseeing the school, The Rev. Bonaventure Rummell, requesting the reinstatement of the Stoudamire-Phillips’ son and a transparent overhaul of policies addressing racist incidents. Their letter stated that Rast’s action of calling the police was “an act of violence and overt racism” and inconsistent with the school’s values.

Another family, with one of the only other Black children at the school, wrote a separate letter calling for Rast’s resignation and detailing other incidents of racism, including students being mocked for their skin tone and hair texture. They noted a lack of communication and action from the school in response to these incidents.

When contacted, Rummell responded that the school could not discuss actions taken or reasons behind them due to privacy concerns. However, he acknowledged in an email to families that “recent conflicts have impacted our caring Catholic community” and invited families to reach out with concerns. He emphasized the school’s commitment to providing a safe environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying.

The Stoudamire-Phillips family had previously encountered racial incidents at the school with their older son. Despite considering transferring their younger son, he wished to stay, and the family continued to volunteer to improve the school’s racial equity policies. After the recent incident, they rushed to the school to comfort their son and discuss the matter with Principal Rast. The conversation became heated, and when they refused to leave without answers, Rast called 911. The police report indicated that they were called due to “parents yelling at the employees and refusing to leave.”

“You have to understand that a Black man having the cops called on him is a totally different implication,” Phillips said. “It’s a complete abuse of power, a ‘Look what I have over you.’”

Following the incident, the family awaited communication regarding disciplinary actions and restorative conversations. However, they were informed that all involved students denied using the slur, implying that perhaps their son misheard. Stoudamire-Phillips responded with an email criticizing Rast’s handling of the situation and defending her son.

A day later, they received an email from Rummell stating, “It has become clear that the relationship of trust and confidence that is necessary for a collaborative partnership between parent and school officials for the good of your child no longer exists.” Their son was allowed to return once to say goodbye to his teachers, an emotional moment for all involved.

Five days later, Rummell reached out, expressing openness to dialogue and stating he was “personally crushed by this experience.” The family is seeking specific changes at The Madeleine, including a public apology, the dismissal of the principal, an independent investigation, counseling services for their son, mandatory anti-racism training, and the adoption of clear anti-racist policies. They have hired Portland lawyer Bonnie Richardson but hope the school will implement the changes without legal action.

This incident is the second controversy at The Madeleine School in under two years. In June 2023, the school lost its longtime principal after guidance from Portland Archbishop Alexander Sample directed Catholic schools to reject students’ decisions to question or change their gender identities. The former principal resisted these guidelines and resigned. The school’s former parish priest, The Rev. Mike Biewend, praised the principal’s resistance in a farewell speech, a section of which has since been removed from the school’s YouTube channel.

Amid backlash, Archbishop Sample temporarily dissolved the archdiocese’s department of Catholic schools to bring education operations under closer scrutiny. When it reopened, it had a new focus on evangelical teaching and a new leader, Elias Moo, who has ties to the movement for Catholic Liberal Education, emphasizing a stricter, more classical vision for Catholic schools.

The Stoudamire-Phillips family, though not Catholic, chose The Madeleine for its Christian values. Now, they are helping their son process his expulsion from the school he loved.

“I have a little kid that’s wondering, ‘Why doesn’t this school love me?” Stoudamire-Phillips said. “He asked me that to my face with tears in his eyes.”