Students at Guilderland High School in the Capital Region are raising concerns about what some called a racially insensitive incident during a recent football game.

Like at most high school football games, the Flying Dutchman’s student section often dress in themes in an effort to promote school spirit. At last Friday’s game, a “black out” theme encouraged students to dress in black clothing, but according to district officials, some students chose to paint their faces black.

District officials said these students were asked to leave the bleachers and wash the paint off their faces.

But the incident offended several students who on Tuesday morning staged a protest of sorts inside the school. About 100 kids reportedly attended. The overall theme was their voices and concerns are not being heard, that this was not an isolated incident.

Superintendent Marie Wiles said the district does not tolerate any discriminatory or derogatory behavior. She said this is clearly stated in the district’s code of conduct and high school student handbook.

Wiles said she was proud of the students who spoke up, and is not taking the task of fixing the issue lightly.

“Today, what the adults learned is that we need to be better listeners," Wiles said. "I mean, truly hear what our students experience...and what we have pledged to them is to sit down with them in small groups, kind of focus groups, open to all the students in our school community and hear from them. What is their experience here in Guilderland High School?”

The district’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Matthew Pinchinate works to promote equity, social justice and anti-racism initiatives across the district and community.

He’ll be involved with the conversations moving forward, and said it’ll go beyond just the high school.

“Yes, I’ll acknowledge this work, it may feel uncomfortable at times," he said. "It may feel like something that we’re not used to diving into to the same degree and the same intensity, but the reality is we owe that bare minimum to our students.”