Boston school Superintendent Tommy Chang vowed on Wednesday that administrators will create a more inclusive environment for all students, in the wake of recent allegations of racism at the city’s two prestigious exam high schools.
Chang addressed a packed School Committee meeting in Roxbury Wednesday evening and spoke in response to the accusations that have surfaced at Boston Latin School and Boston Latin Academy.
While offering few specifics during his brief remarks, Chang praised students who first raised concerns at the Latin School for engaging in “high-risk activism.’’
“This struggle is not new to Boston,’’ Chang said. “We are ready to listen and act on [the student advocates’] behalf.’’
The School Committee also heard from Latin School seniors Meggie Noel, 17, and Kylie Webster-Cazeau, 18, who recently founded the group BLS BLACK in response to what they say is a racially hostile climate at the nation’s oldest public high school.
They said they were unnerved in November 2014, when they and several classmates took to Twitter to protest the decision not to indict a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager.
“The conversation quickly turned to hate speech,’’ Noel said, saying other students replied with offensive messages.
She and Webster-Cazeau said administrators were informed of the racist tweets but took no action, and that a hostile climate persists.
“We feel white students can do anything to students of color and get away with it,’’ Noel said, prompting applause from the more than 100 spectators.
Chang met Monday with leaders of BLS BLACK to discuss their concerns, which also include allegations that students use racial slurs in the hallways and that some teachers ignore the raised hands of black students in class.
The School Department recently announced that officials will review the allegations, and Headmaster Lynne Mooney Teta released a plan to create a more welcoming environment that includes training for teachers.
The controversy spilled over to Boston Latin Academy on Tuesday, when Headmaster Troy Henninger announced that some students were disciplined for posting racially offensive messages on social media in response to the student movement.
“Responsible and engaged citizenship requires that students are held accountable’’ for their bad acts, Webster-Cazeau said.
Several School Committee members lauded the two seniors for their advocacy, including Miren Uriarte.
“Finally, some students are really speaking the truth,’’ she said. “And speaking truth to power.’’
Another committee member, Jeri Robinson, an alum of the former Girls Latin, which became Boston Latin Academy, reflected that she and her fellow black classmates dealt with the same issues decades ago but felt powerless to speak up.
“The difference is your courage “ Robinson said.
Among the speakers during a public comment period was City Councilor Tito Jackson, who lamented that “the leadership of Boston Latin School failed’’ to adequately address the racial issues when they were flagged last year.
He also urged the School Committee to ensure that the student activists do not face retaliation for speaking up about the issue.
School officials said repeatedly on Wednesday that racial equality was not only an issue for the exam schools but for the entire school district.
Noel concurred and went a step further in response. Her words were once again greeted with enthusiastic applause.
“It’s a [national], society issue,’’ she said.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh also met with the student advocates Wednesday and tweeted about their talk later in the evening.
“Honored to meet brilliant, remarkable youth standing for what’s right,’’ Walsh tweeted. “#Boston is better b/c of you.’’
Travis Andersen can be reached at tandersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.
