Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/07/2022

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  We write today to express our disappointment and dissatisfaction with Hilton Head ******ian Academy’s (HHCA) unilateral and likely illegal decision to expel our daughter, **** ******, from school. Our daughter, ****, had only been enrolled at HHCA for one month when HHCA, acting on second-hand information, concluded that **** was no longer welcome into the HHCA community while taking no action against any of the students that were not African-American. This patent act of racial discrimination by HHCA is yet another example of HHCA’s illegal and hurtful practice of treating minority students differently, and specifically excluding and expelling African-American students at a disproportionate rate than white students.
  
  So that you are aware, after being at HHCA for one month, **** participated with the rest of her class in the Middle School Retreat at Epworth By the Sea on St. Simon’s Island. During the retreat **** participated in an age-appropriate discussion with other female students in her cabin. No employee of HHCA witnessed the conversation. No students complained to HHCA employees either that evening or at any time during the retreat. Indeed, it was not until the students returned from the retreat several days later that anyone made mention of this conversation or **** specifically.
  
  On September 14, 2022, we met with HHCA school counselor ******** ****** ******* ***** and another unidentified person whose identity was not disclosed to us. The school counselor conveyed her account of the retreat conversation as she understood it. Importantly, the school counselor was not present during this conversation and relied upon the disputed accounts of other non-African American students to claim that **** somehow instigated an “inappropriate discussion.” HHCA’s account of the conversation, ****’s actions, and the reactions of the other students were unsupported by any evidence. Yet, HHCA ended the meeting stating that a “disciplinary committee”
  would be meeting the next day.
  1. *** ****** ****** an additional unsupported allegation by one girl, that **** had inappropriately touched her on the leg at the retreat was raised (unwitnessed and unsubstantiated) and adamantly denied by ****. This was apparently abandoned by the school as the only reason given for ****’s school removal was her participation in a conversation including sexual content that she had with five other HHCA students – all of whom were non-African-American and continue to attend HHCA.
  
  We were not told what rules **** had broken or who actually witnessed ****’s actions. We were not permitted to talk to any of the other parents of the girls and/or present any opposition to the claims that **** should receive discipline for her part of a six-student conversation during the retreat. Instead, HHCA contacted us after one day stating that the Discipline Committee decided to “disenroll” **** from school. We still were not given any notice of the rules that HHCA claims were broken or the evidence that supported this expulsion.
  
  According to the policies set forth in the Student Handbook, **** had not committed any “major infraction,” she had not been given any “infraction notice,” nor had she met with the principal individually to offer any defense or explanation. These deviations from the policies set forth in the Student Handbook constitute a breach of the contract between us and the school. They are inconsistent with the “attitude of love, grace and fairness” expressed in the Handbook, and provide direct evidence of intentional discrimination against ****. Further, we are aware that no other disciplinary action was taken against the other non African-Amercan students whose participation in the conversation was undisputed.
  
  HHCA, acting in secret and without even the most basic notions of due process or fairness, expelled an African-American female student for identical behavior to the white students. Such obvious and patent discrimination cannot exist in our community. While we understand that private schools, unlike public schools, need not comply with each and every law related to treatment of students, there are legal baselines that private schools such as HHCA cannot ignore. The federal anti-discrimination laws apply to HHCA, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act that prohibits discrimination based upon race. Further, HHCA must conform to standards of conduct in order to maintain accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools. Finally, and most concerning, HHCA cannot treat students differently based upon race and continue to claim they are “providing students with a firm foundation, comprising a growing relationship with Jesus ******…” See, HHCA Mission. ******ianity teaches love and inclusion. Sadly, HHCA’s treatment of **** ****** exhibits the exact opposite of those teachings.
  
  Please take note that we are committed not only to curing this wrong, but also ensuring that HHCA can no longer treat minority students in this fashion without consequence. Consistent with our previous position, we are seeking an apology from
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  HHCA, an investigation into HHCA’s acts of discrimination against **** ******, and a commitment to appropriate institutional behavior in the future.
  
  
  Respectfully,

  Business Response

  Date: 12/22/2022

  Hilton Head Christian Academy is disappointed to see the complaint asserted against it. The complaint is replete with factual inaccuracies and baseless assertions. As a general matter, Hilton Head Christian Academy values diversity, including but not limited to racial diversity. Unfortunately, Hilton Head Christian Academy does not believe it is appropriate to comment on matters involving current and/or former students in a public forum. Hilton Head Christian Academy values the privacy of its current and former students, and it must put those concerns above defending itself in this forum. Those who know the Hilton Head Christian Academy know what it stands for and know the values and dignity it applies in the very serious matter of educating children.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/22/2022

  
  

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

  
  

   Complaint: ********

  
  
  

  I am rejecting this response because:  Hilton Head Christian Academy are not taking ownership of what happened in any way,  shape or form.  I have since talked to other parents of African American descent who have had similar issues.  Also, several families with Caucasian children whose child has has done far worse and not been expelled by the school, so this is ridiculous.  The original letter was very clear and precise and we specifically would like to know what part is not correct?  *** ******

  
  
  

  Regards,

  
  

  ******** ******