Leavenworth ? A series of workshops are planned at the elementary school where the principal gave black students a pep talk about the need to do well on a state achievement test.

At Wednesday night’s meeting of the Leavenworth school board, some parents and grandparents expressed continuing concerns about what happened.

The principal, Terri Dieker, called black fourth- and fifth-graders at Nettie Hartnett Elementary into her office on Feb. 28. According to Linda Aldridge, an assistant superintendent with the district, she told them minority students hadn’t fared as well as whites on past state assessment tests and urged them to try their hardest.

Aldridge said there was no pre-test pep talk for white students.

An interim principal has been assigned to the school, but officials have not clarified Dieker’s employment status with the district. At Wednesday’s meeting, Robert Van Horn, the school board president, and Supt. Richard Branstrator did not confirm whether Dieker had been fired or offered her resignation.

In a March 25 letter telling parents and guardians that Brenda West was serving as interim principal, Branstrator also said Dieker indicated she was considering resignation.

District spokeswoman Catey Edwards said she could confirm there was no letter of resignation. Steve Weissenfluh, the district’s director of human resources, said Thursday he could not comment on Dieker’s status with the school district because it involved a confidential personnel matter.

At Wednesday’s meeting, LaDora Cook said her son had asked her, “Why should I even go to school, mama? I’m stupid.”

“I’m very concerned about what happened,” said Diane Bartow, who has grandchildren at the school. “It seems like we’re just sweeping it under the rug.”

“I feel that if a black principal had called in all the white kids, he would’ve been fired on the spot,” Bartow said.

Branstrator told those at the meeting that Joyce Williams, a Leavenworth High School counselor and sponsor of the school’s People of Color group, will present the special programs for the affected Nettie Hartnett students.

Her group, which included both black and white students, hopes to adopt some of the Nettie Hartnett students in a manner similar to the Big Brother Big Sister program.

Williams said 10 or 11 workshops would be offered on Saturdays to motivate students and assist them with curriculum. Some of the workshops will include special speakers and reading and discussion of books on black heroes.