Two Black sisters who experienced months of racial harassment while attending Millbury Memorial Junior/Senior High School have reached a settlement with Millbury Public Schools, according to the family’s lawyers and school officials. The case centered on allegations of repeated racial taunts, threats, and insufficient responses from school administrators, which the family said ultimately forced them to leave the district.

The complaint, filed in September 2024 with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights by Lawyers for Civil Rights, a Boston advocacy group, detailed extensive incidents of racial bullying. The sisters, Melody and Kamora Dabney, were reportedly subjected to slurs including the n-word, derogatory comments about their skin color, hair, and facial features, and cruel nicknames such as “monkey.” Kamora recalled a late 2023 incident where a white student showed her a note bearing the n-word, which was part of a so-called “n-word pass” joke circulating among some students. After Kamora tore up the note and confronted the student, she was reprimanded by staff, with the racial element of the incident omitted from her record. According to the family’s complaint, school staff repeatedly failed to adequately investigate or address the harassment, despite multiple reports. The siblings were among a small number of Black students at the school.

The settlement requires Millbury Public Schools to revise grievance procedures related to civil rights complaints, aiming to provide clearer protections and more consistent enforcement against identity-based harassment. Lawyers for Civil Rights emphasized the need to address “gaps that have allowed identity-based harassment to persist” and noted the family would receive compensation, though the amount was not disclosed. Trusha Vilvar, the girls’ mother, stated that the case was about standing up for all students who experience racism and discrimination in the district and ensuring their voices are recognized.

Millbury Public Schools Superintendent Greg Myers described the settlement as a mutually agreed resolution reached without any admission of wrongdoing or legal finding that the district had violated civil rights. He said the agreement does not require a “wholesale overhaul” of existing policies, which already include progressive disciplinary measures. Myers added that the district remains committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment and acknowledged that ongoing efforts are needed to promote a positive school culture.

The family’s departure from the district followed what they described as a prolonged failure by school officials to take meaningful action to protect the sisters from racial harassment. The case highlights challenges faced by minority students in predominantly white schools and the broader issues surrounding addressing racial bullying in educational settings. Both the school district and the family expressed hope that the settlement would contribute to improved protections and a more respectful atmosphere for all students at Millbury Memorial Junior/Senior High School.